myofilamentn.
/ˌmʌɪə(ʊ)ˈfɪləm(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌmaɪoʊˈfɪləm(ə)nt/ Histology and Physiology.
Any of the ultramicroscopic, rod-like aggregates of protein molecules that are arranged in an overlapping array in the sarcomere of a myofibril, occurring in two forms, the thick filament (composed of myosin molecules) and thin filament (composed of actin molecules). Also: a similar structure in a smooth muscle cell.
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the world > life > the body > structural parts > muscle > muscle substance > [noun]
brawnc1325
mow1490
muscle1710
muscle cell1840
myosin1866
muscle-box1874
fibre-cell1878
myoblast1884
muscle-case1885
inogen1889
muscle casket1890
sarcomere1891
myofibril1898
myoplasm1907
myofibrilla1913
myotube1933
myofilament1949
myofibre1965
1949 Jrnl. Clin. Investig. 28 770/1 (heading) Myofilaments and myofibrils of cardiac muscle.
1960 Science 19 Aug. 476/2 Smooth muscle also has two morphologically distinct myofilaments.
1968 Brain 91 466 Projecting from the Z bands were moderate numbers of thin myofilaments interspersed with relatively small numbers of thick myofilaments.
1973 Hewer's Textbk. Histol. (ed. 9) x. 119 Although the fibrous proteins actin and myosin can both be isolated from smooth muscle fibres it is not yet clear what their exact relationship is to the longitudinally orientated myofilaments observed in these cells.
1990 Ironman Oct. 90/1 Increased muscle mass..appears to result from an increase in the formation of connective tissues surrounding the muscle fibers and not from the creation of additional myofilaments within the muscle cell itself.
2001 New Scientist 1 Sept. 85 (advt.) Physiologist/biochemist..to investigate how phosphorylation of the myofilaments regulates relaxation of the heart.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1949