Massage & Bodywork Licensing Practice Examination (MBLEx)

The ability for a muscle to return to its original shape after being stretched is known as elasticity. This characteristic is crucial for muscle function, as it allows muscles to lengthen when contracted and then return to their normal resting state afterward. Elasticity ensures that muscles can efficiently perform their functions without losing their shape or integrity, thus playing a vital role in movement and stability.

Irritability refers to the muscle's ability to respond to stimuli, such as nerve impulses, and is not related to the muscle's ability to return to its original shape. Contractility is the ability of a muscle to shorten and generate force when stimulated, which is distinct from the muscle's ability to return to its resting shape. Extensibility refers to the capacity of a muscle to be stretched, which is an essential property, but it does not encompass the muscle's ability to return to its original form after being stretched. Hence, elasticity is the key term that precisely captures the returning characteristic of muscles.