Connective tissue in skeletal muscle
Encyclopedia
Each skeletal muscle
consists of two kinds of tissue: connective tissue
, and muscle tissue. Connective tissue of skeletal muscle contains:
The layers of connective tissue have a major role in protection and covering of muscle fibers, muscle fascicles, and an entire skeletal muscle. Tendons attach the skeletal muscles to bones. Aponeurosis is structurally as tendon that connects the muscles together, or to bone.
These layers are considered as part of each skeletal muscle.
surrounds the whole skeletal muscle. This is a dense layer of connective tissue. Fascia
lies over the epimysium.
encompasses the muscle fascicles. A fascicle contains a group of muscle fibers (or muscle cells). There are blood vessels and nerves in the perimysium to muscle fascicles.
surrounds each single muscle fiber. A muscle fiber is known as a muscle cell. The endomysium separates the muscle fibers of a fascicle. This is a thin, delicate covering of connective tissue.
In addition to the above features, muscle tissue has other two properties:
Skeletal muscle
Skeletal muscle is a form of striated muscle tissue existing under control of the somatic nervous system- i.e. it is voluntarily controlled. It is one of three major muscle types, the others being cardiac and smooth muscle...
consists of two kinds of tissue: connective tissue
Connective tissue
"Connective tissue" is a fibrous tissue. It is one of the four traditional classes of tissues . Connective Tissue is found throughout the body.In fact the whole framework of the skeleton and the different specialized connective tissues from the crown of the head to the toes determine the form of...
, and muscle tissue. Connective tissue of skeletal muscle contains:
- Layers of connective tissue
- TendonTendonA tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
, and sometimes aponeurosisAponeurosisAponeuroses are layers of flat broad tendons. They have a shiny, whitish-silvery color, are histologically similar to tendons, and are very sparingly supplied with blood vessels and nerves. When dissected, aponeuroses are papery, and peel off by sections...
The layers of connective tissue have a major role in protection and covering of muscle fibers, muscle fascicles, and an entire skeletal muscle. Tendons attach the skeletal muscles to bones. Aponeurosis is structurally as tendon that connects the muscles together, or to bone.
Layers of connective tissue
There are three layers of connective tissue in a skeletal muscle:- Epimysium
- Perimysium
- Endomysium
These layers are considered as part of each skeletal muscle.
Epimysium
The epimysiumEpimysium
Epimysium is a layer of connective tissue, which ensheaths the entire muscle. It is composed of dense irregular connective tissue. It is continuous with fascia and other connective tissue wrappings of muscle including the endomysium, and perimysium. It is also continuous with tendons where it...
surrounds the whole skeletal muscle. This is a dense layer of connective tissue. Fascia
Fascia
A fascia is a layer of fibrous tissue that permeates the human body. A fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds muscles, groups of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, binding those structures together in much the same manner as plastic wrap can be used to hold the contents of sandwiches...
lies over the epimysium.
Perimysium
The perimysiumPerimysium
Perimysium is a sheath of connective tissue that groups muscle fibers into bundles or fascicles.Recent advances in muscle physiology suggest that the perimysium plays a role in transmitting lateral contractile movements...
encompasses the muscle fascicles. A fascicle contains a group of muscle fibers (or muscle cells). There are blood vessels and nerves in the perimysium to muscle fascicles.
Endomysium
The endomysiumEndomysium
The endomysium, meaning within the muscle, is a layer of connective tissue that ensheaths a muscle fiber and is composed mostly from reticular fibers. It also contains capillaries, nerves, and lymphatics...
surrounds each single muscle fiber. A muscle fiber is known as a muscle cell. The endomysium separates the muscle fibers of a fascicle. This is a thin, delicate covering of connective tissue.
Layers of a tendon
Tendon is a dense connective tissue that attaches the muscle to bone, or to other muscles. Their collagen fibers contain the primary and secondary fascicles. The layers of connective tissue in each tendon from outside to inside include:- Paratenon
- EpitenonEpitenonThe epitenon is one of two major components in the covers of tendons. It is the loose connective tissue sheath covering a tendon over its entire length. It contains a few fibroblast-like cells, blood and lymphatic vessels and a nerve supply. The other portion, the endotenon, covers the inside...
- Endotenon
Features
Connective tissue of skeletal muscle has two important characteristics:- Extensibility (ability to stretch)
- Elasticity (ability to return to its original shape after stretching)
In addition to the above features, muscle tissue has other two properties:
- IrritabilityIrritabilityIrritability is an excessive response to stimuli. The term is used for both the physiological reaction to stimuli and for the pathological, abnormal or excessive sensitivity to stimuli; It is usually used to refer to anger or frustration....
- Contractility (ability to contract)
See also
- EndomysiumEndomysiumThe endomysium, meaning within the muscle, is a layer of connective tissue that ensheaths a muscle fiber and is composed mostly from reticular fibers. It also contains capillaries, nerves, and lymphatics...
- PerimysiumPerimysiumPerimysium is a sheath of connective tissue that groups muscle fibers into bundles or fascicles.Recent advances in muscle physiology suggest that the perimysium plays a role in transmitting lateral contractile movements...
- EpimysiumEpimysiumEpimysium is a layer of connective tissue, which ensheaths the entire muscle. It is composed of dense irregular connective tissue. It is continuous with fascia and other connective tissue wrappings of muscle including the endomysium, and perimysium. It is also continuous with tendons where it...
- Connective tissue in the peripheral nervous systemConnective tissue in the peripheral nervous systemA peripheral nerve contains two types of tissue: nerve fibers, and connective tissue. Dendrites and axons with schwann cells and myelin sheath are surrounded by connective tissue. A nerve fiber in the peripheral nervous system consists of an axon or long dendrite, myelin sheath and their schwann...