Question

endomysium is a delicate network of loose connective tissue that:
a separates individual muscles
b penetrates muscle fibers
c forms a sheath around a fasciculus
d surrounds each muscle fiber
e is composed of elastic fibers

Explanation:

• Option A: Separating individual muscles is not the function of endomysium. The epimysium (outermost connective - tissue layer of a muscle) is more related to the separation of muscles from surrounding structures.
• Option B: Endomysium does not penetrate muscle fibers. Muscle fibers have their own internal structure, and the endomysium is around them.
• Option C: The perimysium forms a sheath around a fasciculus (a bundle of muscle fibers).
• Option D: Endomysium is a delicate network of loose connective tissue that surrounds each muscle fiber. It provides support and contains capillaries and nerve fibers that supply the muscle fiber.
• Option E: While connective tissues may have some elastic fibers, the defining characteristic of endomysium is its location around each muscle fiber, not its composition of elastic fibers.

Answer:

D. surrounds each muscle fiber