PHYSIOLOGY OF SKELETAL MUSCLE (PART 1): THE STRUCTURE OF SKELETAL MUSCLE
The human body contains approximately 650 muscles and the different sets of muscles are enveloped by a membrane of connective tissue called the fascia (e.g., thoracolumbar fascia).
The functional and structural unit of muscle tissue is the muscle fiber, differentiated muscle cell or myocyte. Each muscle fiber is surrounded by a fine network of reticular fibers (endomysium). In turn, the muscle fibers are grouped in bundles, among which we find connective tissue structures (perimysium) with collagen and elastic fibers, vessels and nerves. The entire muscle is in turn covered by a connective tissue sheath (epimysium), which continues with the connective tissue that surrounds the fiber bundles and tendons.








