How Do Smooth Muscle Cells Differ from Other Muscle Types?

Smooth muscle cells differ from skeletal and cardiac muscle cells in several ways:
- Structure: Smooth muscle cells lack the striations seen in skeletal and cardiac muscle.
- Nuclei: They contain a single, centrally located nucleus, unlike the multiple peripheral nuclei seen in skeletal muscle cells.
- Control: Smooth muscle is involuntary, whereas skeletal muscle is under voluntary control.
- Contraction Mechanism: Smooth muscle contraction is primarily regulated by calcium ions and calmodulin, rather than the troponin-tropomyosin complex found in striated muscles.