Excitability

Definition

Excitability is a characteristic of muscle tissue that allows it to respond to a stimulus by generating an electrical change. This property is essential for muscles to contract and thus perform various functions in the body.

Related terms

Contraction: The process where muscle fibers shorten and generate force in response to an electrical change.

Action potential: A rapid rise and subsequent fall in voltage or electrical charge across a cellular membrane, primarily in nerve and muscle cells, in response to stimuli.

Stimulus: Any external or internal factor that causes a physiological response, often triggering action potentials in excitable cells like those in muscles