Skeletal muscle fibers are organized into bundles, or fascicles, which are arranged in groups of increasing size to form the whole muscle.A small amount of loose connective tissue called the endomysium surrounds each individual muscle fiber. In the drawing, the endomysium is shown in red and is highlighted in green in the histological section. It contains small blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves that supply and innervate the muscle fibers.
The entire muscle is surrounded by a layer of dense connective tissue called the epimysium, shown in pink in the drawing.
A layer of dense connective tissue called perimysium surrounds bundles muscle fibers (in green in the drawing and highlighted in the section).
The whole muscle is surrounded by a layer of dense, regular connective tissue, called epimysium (in pink in the drawing).
The lower image shows a cross-section of skeletal muscle stained with a trichrome stain, which makes the connective tissue easier to distinguish from the muscle fibers.
Skeletal muscle. Staining: Masson’s trichrome. Small magnification.
