Endomysium

The endomysium, meaning within the muscle, is a wispy layer of areolar connective tissue that ensheaths each individual myocyte (muscle fiber, or muscle cell). It also contains capillaries and nerves. It overlies the muscle fiber's cell membrane: the sarcolemma. Endomysium is the deepest and smallest component of muscle connective tissue. This thin layer helps provide an appropriate chemical environment for the exchange of calcium, sodium, and potassium, which is essential for the excitation and subsequent contraction of a muscle fiber.

Endomysium
Structure of a skeletal muscle. (Endomysium labeled at bottom center.)
Identifiers
THH3.03.00.0.00004
Anatomical terminology

Endomysium combines with perimysium and epimysium to create the collagen fibers of tendons, providing the tissue connection between muscles and bones by indirect attachment.[1]

Collagen is the major protein that composes connective tissues like endomysium. Endomysium has been shown to contain mainly type I and type III collagen components, and type IV and type V in very minor amounts.[2]

The term cardiac skeleton is sometimes considered synonymous with endomysium in the heart, but cardiac skeleton also refers to the combination of the endomysium and perimysium.

Anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) are present in celiac disease. They do not cause any direct symptoms to muscles, but detection of EMA is useful in the diagnosis of the disease.[3]

See also

References
  1. Saladin, K. S. (2012). Anatomy and Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
  2. Light, N; Champion, A. E. (1984). "Characterization of muscle epimysium, perimysium and endomysium collagens" (PDF). The Biochemical Journal. 219 (3): 1017–26. doi:10.1042/bj2191017. PMC 1153576. PMID 6743238.
  3. Pruessner, H. T. (1998). "Detecting celiac disease in your patients". American Family Physician. 57 (5): 1023–34, 1039–41. PMID 9518950.


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