The four major properties of skeletal muscles are Excitability/Irritability—The ability to respond or contract in response to chemical and electrical signals. Contractility—The ability to shorten which causes movement of the structures to which the muscles are attached. Conductivity —Stimulus acting on one region of muscle fibre spreads to all parts of the muscle is known as conductivity. Elasticity/Distensibility—The ability to return to the original resting length after a muscle has been stretched.