| An individual muscle is composed of many fascicles (= fasciculi), which are bundles of muscle fibers. Surrounding and holding together each fascicle is a layer of connective tissue known as perimysium. 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. The perimysium also attaches to the connective tissue layer that covers the outer surface of the muscle, the epimysium.
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.
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