Contraction
(Redirected from Contractions)
Contraction refers to the process in which a muscle becomes or is made shorter and tighter. This term is commonly used in the context of muscle physiology, childbirth, and linguistics.
Muscle Physiology[edit | edit source]
In muscle physiology, a contraction occurs when a muscle fiber generates tension through the action of actin and myosin cross-bridge cycling. While under tension, the muscle may lengthen, shorten, or remain the same. The term "contraction" does not necessarily imply shortening. There are two types of muscle contractions: isotonic and isometric.
Isotonic Contractions[edit | edit source]
In an isotonic contraction, tension remains the same, while the muscle's length changes. Isotonic contractions are further divided into two types: concentric and eccentric.
Concentric Contractions[edit | edit source]
A concentric contraction is a type of muscle contraction in which the muscles shorten while generating force.
Eccentric Contractions[edit | edit source]
An eccentric contraction is a type of muscle contraction in which the muscle elongates while under tension due to an opposing force being greater than the force generated by the muscle.
Isometric Contractions[edit | edit source]
In an isometric contraction, the muscle's length remains the same because the force produced is not enough to exceed the load.
Childbirth[edit | edit source]
In the context of childbirth, a contraction refers to the tightening in a pregnant woman's uterus, usually signaling the onset of labor. Contractions can be regular or irregular and vary in strength, frequency, and duration.
Linguistics[edit | edit source]
In linguistics, contraction refers to the shortening of a word, syllable, or word group by omission of internal letters. In English, contractions are often used in informal language.
See Also[edit | edit source]
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