Final answer:
Muscular endurance is the capacity of a muscle to sustain contractions over a long period without fatigue, which is distinct from muscular strength, the force exerted by a muscle in a single contraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of the muscle to continue to perform without fatigue is known as muscular endurance. This capacity allows a muscle to persist in contracting over a prolonged period without becoming tired. Improving muscular endurance requires specific types of exercise that focus on sustaining muscle contractions rather than just producing a single, powerful movement. Muscular strength, on the other hand, refers to the amount of force a muscle can exert in a single effort.
Each muscle has properties that facilitate its function. Excitability, the need for ATP, and contractility enable the muscle to pull and shorten with force. Elasticity allows a muscle to return to its original length when relaxed, while extensibility refers to the muscle's ability to stretch or extend. Furthermore, endurance is critical in smooth muscle tissues which often operate for extended periods without rest. For example, most smooth muscles effectively maintain contractions without high power output or large energy consumption thanks to their physiological properties.