Satellite Cells
Stem cells located between muscle fiber membranes that remain dormant until activated by muscle damage or stress. When activated, they fuse with damaged fibers to repair and strengthen muscle tissue.
Biological Context
Satellite cells are the secret to muscle adaptation. When you lift weights and create microscopic tears in muscle fibers, satellite cells activate, proliferate, and fuse with the damaged fibers—donating their nuclei and enabling increased protein synthesis. This is why muscles grow stronger after being stressed: satellite cells don't just repair damage, they add capacity. With age, satellite cell numbers decline, which is one reason muscle recovery slows.
Business Application
Organizational satellite cells: the reserve capacity that activates during stress. This might be experienced employees who can take on crisis leadership, flexible contractors who can scale up quickly, or modular systems that can be rapidly expanded. Organizations without satellite cell equivalents struggle to recover from damage or grow after stress.