Final answer:
The ability of a muscle to shorten or contract when stimulated is called contractility. Muscle tissue contracts due to the interaction of proteins called actin and myosin that slide past each other, resulting in muscle shortening.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of a muscle to shorten or contract when stimulated is called contractility. Muscle tissue has the quality of contractility which allows it to pull on its attachment points and shorten with force. This is due to the interaction of proteins called actin and myosin that form long filaments in muscle fibers. When muscles contract, these protein filaments slide past each other, resulting in the shortening of the muscle.