CONTRACTILITY

n. Ko2n-tra2k-ti2l'i2-ti2. Lat., contract i litas. Fr., contract i lite. Ger., Contract i lit at, Contractionsvermogen, Zusammenziehbarkeit. It., contrattilitd. Sp.. contractilidad. Capacity for or tendency to contraction; especially capacity for responding to stimulation by movements. [K; L, 135.] Amoeboid c. See Cellular c. Animal c. See Voluntary c. Cellular c. Fr., contract i lite cellulaire. The c. of ma es of protoplasm. [L, 44 (o, 14).] Ciliary c. Yr., contract i lite ciliaire. Protoplasmatic movement originating in the substance of the ciliary cellules, and without influence from the nerve-centres; divided by Valentin into imbatiform, undulatory, oscillatory, and uncinate. [L, 41, 44.] Electrical c. Fr., contract i lite electrique. The c. of a muscle on electrical stimulation. Faradaic c. Fr., contract i lite faradique. The c. of a muscle on stimulation with a faradaic current. Galvanic c. Fr., contract i lite galvanique. The c. of a muscle on galvanic stimulation. Involuntary c. Fr., c. organ i que [Bichat]. Capacity for movements (such as those in smooth or unstriped muscular fibre) which are not dependent upon or governed by the will. [K.] Muscular c. Fr., contract i lite musculaire. Ger., muskularc Contract i lit at. The contractile power of a muscle. Organic c. Fr., contract i lite organ i que [Bichat]. See Involuntary c. Organic insensible c. Fr., contractil'te organ i que insensible [Bichat]. The contractility of the smooth muscle-fibres of glands, ducts, and capillaries; manifested by contractions so limited in extent as to escape notice, except on minute observation. [K; L, 41.] Organic sensible c. Fr., contract i lite organ i que sensible [Bichat]. See Involuntary CONTRACTILITY. Voluntary c. C. (such as that in striped muscular fibre) which depends upon or is governed by the will of the individual. [K.] [s. 385]