A muscle has tone if it does what?

A muscle demonstrates tone when it remains firm and responds to stimuli, reflecting its readiness for action. Muscle tone is the state of partial contraction of muscles, which is crucial for maintaining posture and ensuring that muscles can respond more quickly when necessary. This readiness without full contraction allows for the muscle to be prepared for any immediate physical activity or reaction.

When a muscle has tone, it is not necessarily fully contracted; instead, it is in a state of slight contraction, maintaining firmness. This firmness can be felt when you touch the muscle and indicates that it is responsive to stimuli. If a muscle were fully contracted, it would not be able to respond to further stimulation effectively. Similarly, a muscle that is elongated or relaxed at rest would not exhibit the level of firmness associated with muscle tone. Thus, the characteristic of remaining firm and responsive is what defines muscle tone accurately.