sarcolemma Anat.
(sɑːkəˈlɛmə)
Also -lema.
[mod.L., f. sarco- + Gr. λέµµα (see lemma2).]
The fine transparent tubular sheath investing muscular fibre.
| 1840 Bowman in Phil. Trans. CXXX. 474 Of the Sarcolemma, or Tunic of the Primitive Fasciculus. 1849 Noad Electricity 449 The tendinous fibres are continued among the muscular fibres, whilst the sarcolema merely envelopes the said muscular fibres. 1872 Huxley Physiol. ii. 36 The muscular fibres of the heart..have no sheath or sarcolemma. |
| attrib. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VI. 276 Proliferation of the sarcolemma nuclei. |
Hence
sarcoˈlemmal a., of or pertaining to the sarcolemma.
| 1912 Brain XXXIV. 370 In some places the saracolemmal nuclei were much increased in numbers. 1974 Nature 1 Mar. 69/2 Our data favour the hypothesis that sarcolemmal sensitivity to ACh is regulated by a mechanism located in or near the muscle membrane. |