Final answer:
The statement is false; visceral smooth muscles, or single-unit smooth muscles, are interconnected by gap junctions and contract as a coordinated unit, not independently.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the cells of visceral smooth muscles function as separate units, independent of neighboring cells is false. Visceral smooth muscle, also known as single-unit smooth muscle, exhibits cells that are connected by gap junctions which synchronize the contractions and function in unison, hence the muscle contracts as a single unit.
This is in contrast to multiunit smooth muscle cells, which do not have as many gap junctions, resulting in each cell contracting independently following stimulation from autonomic nerves or hormones.
Visceral smooth muscle is found in the walls of internal organs such as the stomach and bladder, where a coordinated contraction is necessary to function effectively and where it exhibits a stress-relaxation response to accommodate varying volumes of internal content.