Contractility

Definition

Contractility is the ability of muscle tissue to actively shorten and generate pulling force. It is a fundamental property that allows muscles to produce movement or maintain posture.

Related terms

Actin:

A protein that forms (together with myosin) the contractile filaments of muscle cells, involved in motion and contraction.

Myosin:

A type of motor protein found in muscle tissue that interacts with actin to cause muscle contraction.

Excitability: The ability of a muscle cell to respond to a stimulus by generating an electrical impulse