SKELETAL MUSCLE – 1
Striated skeletal muscle fibers constitute the skeletal muscles.
The fibers are long cylindrical cells that can reach several centimeters in length. They are multinucleated, and their nuclei are positioned peripherally, close to the plasma membrane. The nuclei have clear chromatin and are elliptical, resembling the shapeof a cigar. The best way to visualize the peripheral position of their nuclei is in cross-sections of the fibers – see the second diagram.
A very important feature of these muscle fibers, their transverse striations (or bands) of the cytoplasm, is observed wnen they are sectioned lenghtwise.
The fibers are long cylindrical cells that can reach several centimeters in length. They are multinucleated, and their nuclei are positioned peripherally, close to the plasma membrane. The nuclei have clear chromatin and are elliptical, resembling the shapeof a cigar. The best way to visualize the peripheral position of their nuclei is in cross-sections of the fibers – see the second diagram.
A very important feature of these muscle fibers, their transverse striations (or bands) of the cytoplasm, is observed wnen they are sectioned lenghtwise.
The lower image is a low magnification of a skeletal muscle section in which most fibers were cross sectioned.
A smaller number of fibers (highlighted in light blue) was sectioned longitudinally. Due to the low magnification of the image, the transverse striation of the cytoplasm can not be seen.
Fibers in longitudinal section
Fibers in cross section
Striated skeletal muscle. Staining: hematoxylin and eosin. Low magnification.
