What muscle type does albuterol relax to ease bronchospasm?

Albuterol primarily relaxes smooth muscle in the airways to ease bronchospasm. Smooth muscle is a type of involuntary muscle found within various structures such as blood vessels, the gastrointestinal tract, and the bronchioles of the lungs. When albuterol, which is a beta-2 adrenergic agonist, binds to the beta-2 receptors present on the smooth muscle cells in the bronchial walls, it triggers a cascade of events that leads to muscle relaxation. This relaxation opens the airways, allowing for easier breathing for individuals experiencing conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The other muscle types listed do not play a role in this mechanism: cardiac muscle, found in the heart, is responsible for pumping blood; skeletal muscle is voluntary and enables movement but is not involved in bronchial function; and striated muscle is a descriptor for skeletal muscle due to its appearance under a microscope. Therefore, the focus on smooth muscle illustrates why albuterol is effectively used as a bronchodilator.