Definition

Relating to the membrane that surrounds muscle cells.

Example

The sarcolemmal structure is essential for muscle contraction.

Conversation

I was reading about muscle fibers and came across the term sarcolemmal.

Oh really? What does that mean exactly?

It refers to something related to the sarcolemma, which is the cell membrane of muscle cells.

That’s interesting! I didn’t know there was a specific term for that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sarcolemmal → It is formed from "sarco-" (from Greek "sarkos", meaning flesh) and "lemma" (from Greek "lemma", meaning sheath or covering). The term "sarcolemmal" refers to the sheath or membrane surrounding muscle fibers, thus relating to flesh and its protective covering.

Memory Tip

Think of 'flesh' ('sarco-') being covered by a 'sheath' ('lemma') — that's what sarcolemmal means, a covering for muscle fibers.

Visually Confused Words