périmysium

The périmysium is a sheath of connective tissue that groups muscle fibers into bundles called fascicles. Each fascicle is a distinct bundle of muscle cells. This fibrous connective tissue contains blood vessels and nerves that supply the fascicles. The périmysium plays a crucial role in organizing skeletal muscle structure, allowing for coordinated muscle contractions. It is continuous with the epimysium, the outer covering of the entire muscle, and the endomysium, which surrounds individual muscle fibers within a fascicle. This hierarchical organization of connective tissue layers is essential for transmitting force efficiently throughout the muscle and attaching it to bone. Damage to the périmysium can impair muscle function.