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Endomysium is the name given to the fine sheath of connective
tissue layer of reticular fibers that surrounds (covers) each
single muscle
fibre.
This layer
includes includes blood
vessels (capillaries),
nerves and lympathics.
Above: Cross-Section of a fasicle, showing the endomysium surrounding
each muscle fibre.
(The single muscle fibre cut-away shows the sarcolemma
below the endomysium.)
Endomysium should not be confused with other layers of
connective tissue located in the structure of muscles, such as perimysium or sarcolemma.
Layers of muscle tissue are located as follows:
- Sarcolemma is the cell membrane that encloses each muscle
cell (also known as a muscle fibre).
- Endomysium is connective tissue that wraps each individual muscle
fibre.
- Perimysium is connective tissue that wraps bundles of muscle fibres
- the "bundles" being known as fasicles.
- Epimysium is connective tissue that wraps the whole muscle.
- Fascia (or "deep fascia") covers the entire muscle and is located over
the layer of epimysium.
This Section consists of short summaries about the
structures that form the muscles of the body.
This list is not exhaustive but is intended to be appropriate for students
of A-Level Human Biology, ITEC courses in massage and related subjects,
and some other courses in Health Sciences.
For more general information about Muscles see
the pages about: Anterior
Muscles, Posterior
Muscles, Facial
Muscles, Terminology
about Muscles, and the Structure
of Muscles. |
