contractile
Capable of squeezing
Contractile describes something capable of contracting—shortening, tightening, or drawing together.
The term appears most often in biology, describing tissues or cells that can shrink or squeeze: contractile muscle fibers, the contractile vacuole of a paramecium.
A contractile structure can actively change its shape, unlike tissue that merely stretches passively.
Cellular contractile protein
- myosinMotor protein enabling contraction
- troponinMuscle regulatory protein complex
- filamentVery thin thread
- cytoskeletonInternal protein support structure
microfilament · vacuole · organelle · pseudopod · flagellum · cilium · protoplasm · amoeba
Plant-based digestive aid
- striatedMarked with parallel grooves
- cardiacPertaining to the heart
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
- skeletalOf or like bones
musculature · hypertrophy · atrophy · fascicle · tendon · biceps · sphincter · peristalsis
Backward force from discharge
- springinessCapacity for elastic recovery
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- stretchPull to extend
- retractionFormal withdrawal of statement
tension · tautness · pliability · rubber · latex · spandex · expandable · shrinkage
Element twenty, builds bones
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- motor neuronNerve cell activating muscles
- innervationNerve supply to tissue
- isometricHaving uniform measurements
isotonic · tetanus · refractory period · depolarization · relaxation · fatigue · ATP
actin
Cellular contractile protein
- myosinMotor protein enabling contraction
- troponinMuscle regulatory protein complex
- filamentVery thin thread
cytoskeleton · microfilament · vacuole · organelle · pseudopod · flagellum · cilium · protoplasm · amoeba · paramecium
fiber
Plant-based digestive aid
- striatedMarked with parallel grooves
- cardiacPertaining to the heart
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
skeletal · musculature · hypertrophy · atrophy · fascicle · tendon · biceps · sphincter · peristalsis · cramp
recoil
Backward force from discharge
- springinessCapacity for elastic recovery
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- stretchPull to extend
retraction · tension · tautness · pliability · rubber · latex · spandex · expandable · shrinkage · compression
calcium
Element twenty, builds bones
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- motor neuronNerve cell activating muscles
- innervationNerve supply to tissue
isometric · isotonic · tetanus · refractory period · depolarization · relaxation · fatigue · ATP
actuator
Device producing controlled motion
- pistonReciprocating cylinder component
- hydraulicRelating to pressurized liquids
- pneumaticUsing pressurized gas
solenoid · servo · nitinol · prosthetic · biomimetic · gripper · valve
- root typestaproot, aerial roots, fibrous, prop roots, buttress roots
- cell termscellular, cytoplasmic, nuclear, mitotic, eukaryotic
contractilerigid
Unable to bend
inflexible · stiff · fixed · inelastic · immobile
contractileexpansile
Capable of expanding outward
expandable · expanded · dilatable · extensible · distensible
- defense contractingMilitary supply industry
- economic contractionDecline in monetary activity
- muscle contractionFibers tensing and shortening
- contractile vacuoleWater-expelling organelle in protists
- contraction timingMeasuring labor interval duration
- contraction timerDevice timing labor intervals
contraction, contracting, contractile vacuole, contractility