Refers to the action of getting smaller, as a muscle cell does when exerting force.

Physical Movement

Specifically describes heart tissue's nature of contracting to pump blood.

Heart Function

Can be used in other contexts where shrinkage or shortening occurs.

Not Just Biological

Most often used to describe muscle cells and tissue in living organisms.

Biology Specific

Refers to parts of single-celled organisms that aid in movement or fluid regulation.

Microorganisms

In biology, contractile activity may not be apparent to the naked eye.

Not Always Visible

 differentiate them into cardiac muscle cells and then take them out of the dish and transplant them into the hearts of patients who have had heart attacks. I think this is going to reseed the wall with new muscle tissue, and this will restore contractile function to the heart.

Contractile