Definition

A small segment of muscle tissue that is part of a larger muscle fiber, responsible for muscle contraction.

Example

Each sarcomere shortens when the muscle contracts, allowing movement.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a sarcomere?

Yeah, isn't it one of the segments in muscle tissue?

Exactly! It's like the basic unit of muscle contraction.

That's really interesting; I didn't know it had such a specific role.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sarcomere is formed from "sarco-" (from Greek "sarkos", meaning flesh) and "mere" (from Greek "meros", meaning part). The word "sarcomere" refers to the functional unit of muscle tissue, specifically a part of the muscle fiber that is responsible for contraction.

Memory Tip

Think of 'flesh' ('sarco-') as the material that makes up muscles, and 'part' ('mere') as a section of that muscle. This helps you remember that a sarcomere is a part of the muscle responsible for contraction.

Visually Confused Words