sarcomere

[ sahr-kuh-meer ]

noun

, Biology.

1. any of the segments of myofibril in striated muscle fibers.

sarcomere

/ ˈsɑːkəʊˌmɪə /

noun

1. any of the units that together comprise skeletal muscle

sarcomere

/ sär′kə-mîr′ /

1. The contractile unit of a skeletal muscle fiber. Sarcomeres are divided into bands of filaments made of actin or myosin. During muscle contraction, the filaments slide over each other to cause shortening of the sarcomere.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sarcomere¹

First recorded in 1890–95; sarco- + -mere

Example Sentences

More myofibrils will increase the mass of a muscle cell while more sarcomeres will increase the length.

From Popular-Science