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Muscle Satellite Cells

Meaning

Muscle Satellite Cells are quiescent, specialized adult stem cells located between the basal lamina and the sarcolemma of muscle fibers, serving as the primary cellular reserve for muscle regeneration and repair. These crucial cells are normally dormant but become activated in response to muscle damage or mechanical overload, proliferating and fusing to form new muscle fibers or repair existing ones. Their functional capacity is a direct determinant of an individual’s ability to maintain lean muscle mass and recover from exercise, a process that is profoundly influenced by hormonal signaling. The decline in satellite cell function with age contributes significantly to sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass.