Type III Intermediate filaments

In smooth muscle, Desmin binds links dense bodies together to provide a resistive force to stretching. In skeletal muscle Desminalso prevents overstretch of the sarcomere in skeletal muscle and works in conjunction with two other intermediate filament components, Synemin and Skelemin to maintain sarcomere organisation and integrity. Thick filament (Myosin II motor bundle) or thin filament (F-actin) that actually do the work of muscle contraction.