Constriction vs. Contraction — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 16, 2024
Constriction refers to the narrowing or tightening of a structure, often reducing flow or space, while contraction denotes the shortening or tightening of muscles or other tissues.
Difference Between Constriction and Contraction
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Constriction involves the narrowing or tightening of a passage or vessel. This term is often used in contexts where a space is being made smaller, such as in blood vessels or airways, reducing the flow through them. Contraction, on the other hand, refers to the process of becoming shorter or tighter. This term is commonly associated with muscles, which contract to produce movement.
Constriction can also apply to non-biological contexts, such as the constriction of a hose, which restricts water flow. In contrast, contraction primarily describes a biological process but can also refer to the reduction in size of other materials, like the contraction of metal when cooled.
Constriction is usually an involuntary process, like the constriction of blood vessels due to cold temperatures. Meanwhile, contraction can be both voluntary, like flexing a muscle, and involuntary, such as the contractions of the heart muscle.
Constriction and contraction can both affect blood flow; constriction reduces the diameter of vessels, while contraction, such as in the heart, helps pump blood through the body. Both are crucial for maintaining proper physiological functions.
Constriction might result from external forces, like a snake constricting its prey, whereas contraction is generally an internal mechanism driven by biological processes, like muscle fibers shortening during exercise.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Narrowing or tightening of a structure
Shortening or tightening of muscles or tissues
Context
Often used in biological and non-biological contexts
Primarily used in biological contexts
Process Type
Usually involuntary
Can be voluntary or involuntary
Examples
Blood vessel constriction, airway constriction
Muscle contraction, heart contractions
External/Internal
Often due to external forces
Generally an internal mechanism
Compare with Definitions
Constriction
A reduction in space or volume.
The constriction of the tube restricted the flow of water.
Contraction
The reduction in size or length.
The contraction of metal when it cools is a physical property.
Constriction
Something that binds or squeezes.
The snake’s constriction was powerful enough to immobilize its prey.
Contraction
A decrease in length or duration.
The contraction of the workweek was implemented to increase efficiency.
Constriction
The act of narrowing a passage or vessel.
The constriction of the artery reduced blood flow.
Contraction
The act of contracting or the state of being contracted.
Constriction
A tight or narrow state.
The constriction in her throat made it hard to swallow.
Contraction
A word, as won't from will not, or phrase, as o'clock from of the clock, formed by omitting or combining some of the sounds of a longer phrase.
Constriction
The action of tightening or compressing.
Constriction of the muscles can cause cramps.
Contraction
The formation of such a word.
Constriction
Constriction is a method used by various snake species to kill or subdue their prey. Although some species of venomous and mildly venomous snakes do use constriction to subdue their prey, most snakes which use constriction lack venom.
Contraction
(Physiology) The shortening and thickening of functioning muscle or muscle fiber.
Constriction
The act or process of constricting.
Contraction
Any of a series of sudden and involuntary tightenings of the uterine muscles occurring before or during childbirth.
Constriction
The condition or result of being constricted.
Contraction
A period of decreased business activity.
Constriction
Something that constricts.
Contraction
A reversible reduction in size.
Constriction
A feeling of tightness or pressure
Fear caused a sudden constriction in my chest.
Contraction
(economics) A period of economic decline or negative growth.
The country's economic contraction was caused by high oil prices.
Constriction
A constricted or narrow part.
Contraction
A shortening of a muscle during its use.
Constriction
The act of constricting, the state of being constricted, or something that constricts.
Contraction
A strong and often painful shortening of the uterine muscles prior to or during childbirth.
Constriction
A narrow part of something; a stricture.
Contraction
(linguistics) A process whereby one or more sounds of a free morpheme (a word) are lost or reduced, such that it becomes a bound morpheme (a clitic) that attaches phonologically to an adjacent word.
In English, didn't, that's, and wanna, the endings -n't, -'s, and -a arose by contraction.
Constriction
A compression.
Contraction
(English orthography) A word with omitted letters replaced by an apostrophe, usually resulting from the above process.
Don't is a contraction of do not; and 'til is a contraction of until.
Constriction
The act of constricting by means of some inherent power or by movement or change in the thing itself, as distinguished from compression.
Contraction
A shorthand symbol indicating an omission for the purpose of brevity.
Constriction
The state of being constricted; the point where a thing is constricted; a narrowing or binding.
A constriction of the parts inservient to speech.
Contraction
The acquisition of something, generally negative.
Our contraction of debt in this quarter has reduced our ability to attract investors.
Constriction
A narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel
Contraction
The process of contracting a disease.
The contraction of malaria
Constriction
Tight or narrow compression
Contraction
(phonetics) Syncope, the loss of sounds from within a word.
Constriction
A feeling of tightness in some part of the body;
He felt a constriction in her chest
Emotion caused a constriction of his throat
Contraction
A distinct stage of wound healing, wherein the wound edges are gradually pulled together.
Constriction
The action or process of compressing
Contraction
The act or process of contracting, shortening, or shrinking; the state of being contracted; as, contraction of the heart, of the pupil of the eye, or of a tendon; the contraction produced by cold.
Contraction
The process of shortening an operation.
Contraction
The act of incurring or becoming subject to, as liabilities, obligation, debts, etc.; the process of becoming subject to; as, the contraction of a disease.
Contraction
Something contracted or abbreviated, as a word or phrase; - as, plenipo for plenipotentiary; crim. con. for criminal conversation, etc.
Contraction
The shortening of a word, or of two words, by the omission of a letter or letters, or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one; as, ne'er for never; can't for can not; don't for do not; it's for it is.
Contraction
A marriage contract.
Contraction
(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)
Contraction
The process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together;
The contraction of a gas on cooling
Contraction
A word formed from two or more words by omitting or combining some sounds;
`won't' is a contraction of `will not'
`o'clock' is a contraction of `of the clock'
Contraction
The act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
Contraction
The process of becoming shorter or tighter.
The contraction of the biceps pulls the forearm up.
Contraction
The tightening of muscle fibers.
Muscle contraction is essential for movement.
Contraction
An involuntary tightening of muscles.
Labor involves the contraction of the uterus.
Common Curiosities
Can constriction be voluntary?
Constriction is usually involuntary, such as the constriction of blood vessels.
What is contraction?
Contraction is the process of muscles or tissues becoming shorter or tighter.
Does constriction only apply to biological contexts?
No, constriction can apply to both biological and non-biological contexts.
What is constriction?
Constriction refers to the narrowing or tightening of a passage or structure.
Is contraction limited to muscles?
Primarily, but it can also refer to the reduction in size of other materials.
What causes muscle contraction?
Muscle contraction is triggered by signals from the nervous system.
Can contraction be voluntary?
Yes, muscle contraction can be voluntary, like when you flex your arm.
How does constriction affect blood flow?
Constriction reduces the diameter of blood vessels, restricting blood flow.
Can constriction be dangerous?
Yes, excessive constriction can lead to reduced blood flow and oxygen supply.
How does contraction affect movement?
Muscle contraction generates force and movement in the body.
What causes constriction in blood vessels?
Factors like cold temperatures or certain medications can cause constriction.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
