Histogenetic and morphofunctional aspects of muscle tissue classification (review and research perspectives)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26641/1997-9665.2025.4.95-103

Keywords:

histogenesis, muscle tissue, myogenesis, cardiogenesis, myoblast, cardiomyocyte, smooth muscle

Abstract

Introduction. Novel methods for determining the developmental pathways and formation of muscle tissue, whose main feature is the contraction mechanism, are gaining widespread use. Muscle tissue is a highly specialized structure responsible for the motor activity of an organism. Understanding its structure and histogenesis is critically important for studying both normal and pathological conditions. Research in embryology and histology, enhanced by modern methods of microscopy and molecular biology, allows for a new look at the fundamental mechanisms of muscle tissue development, which opens up new perspectives in the field of individual developmental biology, cytology and histology. The objective of this article is to systematize and integrate current scientific data on the histogenetic and morphofunctional aspects of muscle tissue classification. The aim is to expand the understanding of the developmental origins and key differences in the formation processes of each type of muscle tissue. Methods. A systematic scientific search was conducted in the Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and PubMed databases. The analysis covered the period from 2015 to 2025. The search was performed using keywords such as "myogenesis," "cardiogenesis," "smooth muscle development," "muscle tissue histology," and "embryonic myogenesis." In total, over 100 scientific publications were analyzed, including review articles and the results of primary experimental studies. Results. The literature analysis confirms that the three types of muscle tissue have different origins and unique histogenetic mechanisms. Skeletal muscle develops from the myotomes of somites through the fusion of myoblasts into multinucleated muscle fibers. Cardiac muscle is formed from the visceral leaf of the splanchnotome; however, cardiomyocytes do not fuse but form a single network, functionally connected by intercalated discs. Smooth muscle has the most variable origin (from the splanchnotome mesenchyme or the ectoderm of the neural crest) and is formed from individual spindle-shaped cells that retain the ability to proliferate. Conclusion. The fundamental morphofunctional differences between the three types of muscle tissue are directly determined by their histogenesis. Modern research methods allow for the detailed study of these processes, confirming that the formation of multinucleated structures, specific intercellular contacts, and the variability of embryonic origin are key events that determine the final structure of muscle tissue. The systematization of this knowledge is the basis for further research in developmental biology and tissue engineering.

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Published

2025-10-30

How to Cite

Kobeza, P., & Tverdokhlib , I. (2025). Histogenetic and morphofunctional aspects of muscle tissue classification (review and research perspectives). Морфологія / Morphologia / Morfologìâ, 19(4), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.26641/1997-9665.2025.4.95-103

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Vol. 19 No. 4 (2025)

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