Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The sarcolemma is the specialized cell membrane that surrounds a muscle fiber in skeletal muscle tissue. It functions to conduct electrical signals and maintain the environment for muscle contraction.
A long filamentous organelle found within muscle cells that has a banded appearance and is involved in muscular contraction.
T: tubules (Transverse tubules) - Invaginations of the sarcolemma that penetrate into the cell interior and help spread electrical impulses quickly throughout the muscle fiber.
Sarcoplasmic reticulum: A specialized form of smooth endoplasmic reticulum that stores and releases calcium ions to trigger muscle contraction