Isometric and isotonic length-tension relations of longitudinal smooth muscle from rabbit urinary bladder were studied together with muscle cell length and tissue structure as revealed histologically. In vivo strip length at a bladder volume of 10 m1 is referred to as L10. The smooth muscle was relaxed by Ca2+-free solution and contracted by K+-high solution with different Ca2+-concentrations. Maximal active force, 12.5+/-0.4 N/cm2 (S.E., n =11), for wholestrips was attained at a length of 206+/-4% (S.E., n=5) of L10. Passive tension at this length was about 15% of total tension. After correction for amount of connective tissue, maximal active tension of pure muscle bundles was 19 N/cm2. Up to about 165% of L10 isometric and isotonic length-tension relations were identical; if the muscle was stretched beyond this, it failed to shorten isotonically to the same length as when contracting from a shorter starting length. This decreased shortening capacity was reversible if the muscle was shortened passively. The extent of shortening against zero load was dependent on degree of activation suggesting an internal resistance to shortening. A linear relationship was found between bladder radius and muscle cell length, indicating that no slippage occurs between the cells when the bladder is filled. Mean cell diameter in the nuclear regionat L10 was 7.2+/-0.2 mum (S.D.,n=10). Mean macimal active tension per cell was calculated to be 2.3-10(-6) N and occurred at a cell length of 655 mum.