Through the process of muscle contraction, tension is developed within muscle tissue, which may or may not lead to movement of a part of the body. The term contraction often means to shorten; however, during a muscle contraction the tension may cause muscles to stay the same, get longer or become shorter.The physical process of the contraction happens quickly and in only a few steps.nstead, a muscle contraction of smooth or cardiac muscle is initiated within the organ itself. Within the digestive system, the introduction of food is what causes the contractions to move the food through the system.