Final answer:
The major properties of the muscular system include excitability, contractility, extensibility, elasticity, and thermal generation. These properties allow muscles to respond to stimuli, contract and extend, return to their original form, and generate heat.
Step-by-step explanation:
5 Major Properties of the Muscular System
The muscular system, an essential component of the human body, exhibits five major properties that enable movement and stability. Here are these properties described briefly:
- Excitability: Muscle tissue has the ability to respond to stimuli, which can originate externally from the nervous system or internally from other physiological processes.
- Contractility: Muscles can shorten forcibly when stimulated. This property allows for various body movements and functions, like pumping blood through the heart or digesting food.
- Extensibility: In addition to contracting, muscles can be stretched or extended beyond their normal resting length, aiding in their flexibility and motion range.
- Elasticity: After being stretched, muscle tissue can return to its original shape thanks to its elastic properties.
- Thermal Generation: Muscles generate heat as a by-product of their contraction, which helps maintain body temperature.
It is these combined properties that enable the three types of muscle tissues—skeletal, cardiac, and smooth—to perform their critical roles within the human body.