What type of tissue consists of long cells that contract when stimulated to produce motion?

Muscle tissue is characterized by its unique ability to contract, which is facilitated by long, fibrous cells known as muscle fibers. When stimulated by nerve signals, these fibers shorten and generate force, resulting in motion. This contraction is essential for various functions in the body, including voluntary movements like walking and involuntary movements such as the beating of the heart. There are different types of muscle tissue—skeletal, cardiac, and smooth—each serving specific roles throughout the body, but all share the common property of contraction in response to stimulation. This distinguishes muscle tissue from other types of tissue that do not possess this capability, such as epithelial, adipose, or nervous tissue, which serve functions related to protection, energy storage, and signal transmission, respectively.