Within the skeletal muscle cells, there are many organelles. Each cell contains a plasma membrane called the sarcolemma, covering the outer surface of the cell (Ivy Rose). The sarcolemma protects the muscle cell and allows for its shape to be kept. From the sarcolemma, tunnel-like extensions called transverse tubules pass through the muscle fiber (Ivy Rose). These transverse tubules connect the sarcoplasmic reticulum with the sarcolemma (Graham and Parker 117). The sarcoplasmic reticulum is a type of smooth endoplasmic reticulum that is formed by many membrane-enclosed tubules. It extends throughout the sarcoplasm and functions to store calcium ions that are important for muscle contraction (Ivy Rose). Adjacent to the sarcolemma, and arranged
