Which connective tissue layer surrounds an entire muscle and may blend with fascia?

Which connective tissue layer surrounds an entire muscle and may blend with fascia?

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

Answer: (C)

Muscle connective tissue layers organize how a muscle is wrapped and how force is transmitted. The layer that surrounds the entire muscle is the epimysium, a sheath of dense irregular connective tissue that can blend with surrounding fascia and continues into the tendon to help transfer force to bone. Inside it, the endomysium wraps each individual muscle fiber, and the perimysium wraps groups of fibers into fascicles. The tendon is the dense connective tissue that connects muscle to bone, not a layer around the whole muscle.

Muscle connective tissue layers organize how a muscle is wrapped and how force is transmitted. The layer that surrounds the entire muscle is the epimysium, a sheath of dense irregular connective tissue that can blend with surrounding fascia and continues into the tendon to help transfer force to bone. Inside it, the endomysium wraps each individual muscle fiber, and the perimysium wraps groups of fibers into fascicles. The tendon is the dense connective tissue that connects muscle to bone, not a layer around the whole muscle.