Skeletal muscle tissue is long thin tissue connected to bones. It is the longest type of muscle tissue in the body. Skeletal muscle is striated muscle tissue, appearing to be stripped. Striations are fibers of muscle tissue that cross over each fiber causing an appearance of crisscrossing thought the muscle. Skeletal muscle tissue is the only type of muscle tissues that is voluntary. Since it is voluntary, the human can directly control the muscle. Skeletal muscle cells are small and very fragile. Even though its cells are fragile, skeletal muscle tissue is very strong. The strength from skeletal muscle is derived from a sheath that covers every skeletal muscle fiber.
Every skeletal muscle cell is enclosed in a connective tissue sheath known as the
endomysium. Each of the skeletal muscle fibers, which are enclosed within the endomysium,
are collected into larger groups called fascicles, which are Covered by a coarser fibrous
membrane known as the perimysium. Fascicles are grouped into even larger groups. A layer
of connective tissue called the epimysium protects these groups. Epimysium covers the
entire muscle. Tendons and aponeuroses are collections of epimysia.
