68 Handbook of Food Science and Technology 3
Adipose tissue
Muscle connective tissue contains adipocytes in the
perimysium
; they
form marbling, i.e. fat deposits visible to the eye. Apart from marbling, three
types of adipose tissue can be found in a carcass: intramuscular fat, external
fat
that covers the carcass, and internal fat in the thoracic, abdominal and
pelvic cavities (Figure 2.2).
Figure 2.2.
Structure of muscle, connective and adipose tissues in meat
Fish
Fish muscle is also composed of muscle and connective tissue, but the
structure is different to that of meat muscle. Interpenetration of these two
tissues is not as pronounced in fish as it is in meat. In addition, fish muscle
has a metameric structure. Fish flesh is composed
of long muscles divided
into conical segments, the top of which point towards the head (muscle
tissue). These segments, also known as
myotomes
, measuring 3 cm or less in
length, are fitted into each other but remain separated by sheets of
connective tissue known as
myocommata
(Figure 2.3). When the connective
From Muscle to Meat and Meat Products 69
tissue is separated from the myotomes, the individual flakes fall apart; this is
known as splitting of gaping.
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