Each skeletal muscle contains three layers of connective tissue called myosia that surround and compartmentalize the muscle fibers. The connective tissue components include the epimysium, perimysium, and endomysium. The epimysium surrounds the whole muscle, the perimysium separates the muscle into bundles of fibers called fascicles, and the endomysium covers individual muscle fibers. Skeletal muscles also contain blood vessels, nerve fibers, and adipose tissue in the superficial fascia that insulates and protects the muscle.