characteristics of skeletal muscle tissue

Question 1

excitability definition

Answer 1

the ability of a muscle to contract in response to electrical and/or chemical signals

Question 2

excitability and movement

Answer 2

cells need to be stimulated (excited) through nerve impulses in order for a muscle to contract

Question 3

extensibility definition

Answer 3

the capacity of a muscle to stretch beyond its original resting length

Question 4

extensibility and movement

Answer 4

a muscle can stretch up to 1.5x its original length. it can be improved through regular training, but rapid loss can occur in the absense of training. muscles work in pairs called antagonist pairs to produce movement.

Question 5

elasticity definition

Answer 5

the ability of a muscle to return to its original resting length after it is stretched

Question 6

contractibility definition

Answer 6

the ability of a muscle to contract or shorten

Question 7

contractibility and movement

Answer 7

all the muscle fibres in a motor unit all work at either 100% force or with none at all. to increase contractibility strength, stronger or increased brain signals are sent to recruit more muscle fibres.