Which connective tissue surrounds a single skeletal muscle fiber?

Which connective tissue surrounds a single skeletal muscle fiber?

• A. Endomysium
• B. Perimysium
• C. Epimysium
• D. Fascia

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how skeletal muscle fibers are encased by connective tissue in layers that progressively surround larger parts of the muscle. Each individual skeletal muscle fiber is wrapped by a thin connective tissue sheath called the endomysium. This delicate layer sits between the muscle fiber’s membrane (the sarcolemma) and the surrounding basal lamina, and it contains reticular fibers, capillaries, and typically satellite cells. This arrangement provides nutrients to the fiber through the capillaries and offers a small amount of structural support so that force from a single fiber can be transmitted laterally to neighboring fibers via the surrounding endomysial network. In contrast, the next layer wraps a bundle of fibers: the perimysium surrounds a fascicle. The entire muscle is enclosed by the epimysium, and a separate outer sheath called fascia surrounds muscles or muscle groups more broadly.

The main idea is how skeletal muscle fibers are encased by connective tissue in layers that progressively surround larger parts of the muscle. Each individual skeletal muscle fiber is wrapped by a thin connective tissue sheath called the endomysium. This delicate layer sits between the muscle fiber’s membrane (the sarcolemma) and the surrounding basal lamina, and it contains reticular fibers, capillaries, and typically satellite cells. This arrangement provides nutrients to the fiber through the capillaries and offers a small amount of structural support so that force from a single fiber can be transmitted laterally to neighboring fibers via the surrounding endomysial network.

In contrast, the next layer wraps a bundle of fibers: the perimysium surrounds a fascicle. The entire muscle is enclosed by the epimysium, and a separate outer sheath called fascia surrounds muscles or muscle groups more broadly.