In a skeletal muscle, the muscle bundles or fascicles are held together by

Options

A. Fascia (made up of elastin fibres mainly)
B. Fascia (made up of collagen fibres mainly)
C. Endomysium (made up of elastin fibres mainly)
D. Endomysium (made up of collagen fibres mainly)

Answer

To solve the question "In a skeletal muscle, the muscle bundles or fascicles are held together by?", we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Structure**: Recognize that in skeletal muscle, muscle fibers are organized into bundles known as fascicles.

2. **Understand the Connective Tissue**: Each fascicle is surrounded by a layer of connective tissue. This connective tissue is important for providing structure and support to the muscle.

3. **Know the Types of Connective Tissue**: There are different types of connective tissues associated with skeletal muscle:
- **Endomysium**: This is the connective tissue that surrounds individual muscle fibers within a fascicle.
- **Perimysium**: This surrounds each fascicle.
- **Epimysium**: This is the outer layer that surrounds the entire muscle.

4. **Focus on the Question**: The question specifically asks what holds the muscle bundles (fascicles) together. This indicates we need to look for the connective tissue that surrounds multiple fascicles.

5. **Identify the Correct Answer**: The connective tissue that binds all the fascicles together is called **fascia**. It is primarily made up of collagen fibers, which provide strength and support.

6. **Review the Options**:
- Fascia made up of elastin fibers mainly (incorrect).
- Fascia made up of collagen fibers mainly (correct).
- Endomysium (incorrect, as it surrounds individual muscle fibers).
- Perimysium (also incorrect, as it surrounds individual fascicles).

7. **Conclusion**: The correct answer is that muscle bundles or fascicles in skeletal muscle are held together by **fascia**, which is made up of collagen fibers.

### Final Answer:
The muscle bundles or fascicles in a skeletal muscle are held together by **fascia**, which is made up of collagen fibers.