Muscle tissue Properties

automaticity

the ability of a muscle to contract without the involvement of a nerve supply, and is a property of visceral, smooth and cardiac muscles

contractility

the ability of a skeletal muscle to contract (shorten); for example, the biceps muscle contracts when the arm is flexed

elasticity

the ability of skeletal muscle fibers to resume their rest length when a stretched force is removed

excitability

aka irritability, he ability of a skeletal muscle to receive and respond to a nerve impulse by contracting

extensibility

the ability of the skeletal muscles to be stretched

Example of Elasticity

when a spring is stretched and then release, it returns to its original position

Example of Excitability

nerves send a message to the heart muscle, and the hear pimps blood though the vessels throughout the body

Example of Extensibility

evident in the hamstrings and calf muscles during a toe touch