Physiologic Function
muscle contraction
[ muhs-uhl kuhn-trak-shuhn ]
Subclass of:
Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena
Definitions related to muscle contraction:
  • A process in which force is generated within muscle tissue, resulting in a change in muscle geometry. Force generation involves a chemo-mechanical energy conversion step that is carried out by the actin/myosin complex activity, which generates force through ATP hydrolysis.
    Gene Ontology Dictionary
    Gene Ontology Consortium, 2021
  • A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • Process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue; occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • The process where thick (myosin) and thin (actin) filaments slide against each other to produce a shortening or tensing of the muscle cell or fiber.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.