Surface force apparatus coupling

As the neighboring cells of smooth muscle tissues are mechanically coupled, the contractile apparatus of each individual cell exerts tension on its neighbors. Force transmission across the sarcolemma of smooth muscle cells occurs at membrane-associated dense plaques found over the entire cell surface. When isolated smooth muscle cells contract, the points of attachment of contractile filaments are drawn into the cell, resulting in out-pouching of the membrane areas between the plaques (Harris and Warshaw 1991, Draeger et al 1990). 

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