sarcolemma

noun

sar·​co·​lem·​ma ˌsär-kə-ˈle-mə 

: the membrane enclosing a striated muscle fiber

sarcolemmal

ˌsär-kə-ˈle-məl 

adjective

Examples of sarcolemma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Curiously, the fungus destroyed the sarcolemma, a kind of sheath around the muscle fibers. —Matt Simon, WIRED, 17 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

sarco- + Greek lémma "rind, husk" — more at lemma entry 2

Note: Term introduced by the English surgeon and histologist William Bowman (1816-92) in "On the minute structure and movements of voluntary muscle," Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 1840, part II, p. 475.

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

sarcolemma

noun

sar·​co·​lem·​ma ˌsär-kə-ˈlem-ə 

: the thin transparent homogeneous sheath enclosing a striated muscle fiber

sarcolemmal

-əl 

adjective