A sarcomere is the area between two Z discs.
This is the fundamental unit of striated muscle tissue, where the contraction of the muscle takes place. Sarcomeres are made up of overlapping thick (myosin) and thin (actin) filaments, and they are arranged in a specific pattern that gives skeletal muscle its striated appearance. When a muscle contracts, the sarcomeres shorten, pulling the Z discs closer together, which leads to the overall shortening of the muscle fiber. This process is crucial for muscle function and allows for movement in the body.