Skeletal muscle fibers: arrangement and location

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Nov 7th, 2022

Skeletal muscle fibers are located inside muscles, where they are organized into bundles called fascicles (= fasciculi).

• The epimysium is the connective tissue layer that covers the outer surface of the muscle.

Surrounding and holding together each fascicle is a layer of connective tissue known as perimysium.

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Portions of the perimysium extend into the fascicle and merge with the endomysium, a thin layer of areolar connective tissue that covers each muscle fiber.

In the deep fascia around the muscles are several large arteries, veins, and nerves. Branches of these vessels and nerves penetrate each muscle close to its midpoint, then extend into the epimysium and perimysium layers. In the endomysium, individual muscle fibers (cells) are supported by nearby capillaries and nerve cells.