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Epimysium is fibrous
elastic tissue that surrounds each muscle. There are usually
many fasicles that form a single muscle: Epimysium surrounds
the muscle formed by groups of parallel fasciles (see diagram below).
Structure of Epimysium:
Epimysium consists
of dense connective tissue. Epimysium (together with the perimysium and endomysium layers of connective
tissue) generally extend beyond the fleshy part of the muscle, forming
a
thick rope-like
tendon
or a broad, flat sheet-like aponeurosis. Thesse
form indirect attachments from muscles to the periosteum of bones or
to the
connective tissue of other muscles.
Epimysium should not be confused with other layers
of connective tissue located in the structure of muscles, such as
endomysium or
perimysium. Layers
of muscle tissue:
- 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. |
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