What is the delicate connective tissue surrounding each muscle fiber called?

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

Answer: (A)

The delicate connective tissue around each muscle fiber is the endomysium. This thin layer of areolar (loose) connective tissue sits directly around the sarcolemma (the muscle cell membrane) and contains tiny blood vessels and nerves to nourish and control the individual fiber. It also helps isolate each fiber so it can contract and transmit force efficiently to the surrounding connective tissue.

In contrast, tissue that wraps a bundle of fibers is the perimysium, and the outermost layer that surrounds the whole muscle is the epimysium. A tendon, while related to muscles, is a dense, rope-like structure that connects muscle to bone, not the tissue around a single fiber.