Fascicles

Definition

Fascicles are bundles of nerve or muscle fibers wrapped together by a layer of connective tissue. In the context of the peripheral nervous system, they specifically refer to bundles of axons (nerve fibers) that are encased within the nerves.

Related terms

Axon:

A long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that typically conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body.

Myelin Sheath:

A fatty layer that surrounds axons in the nervous system, acting as insulation to speed up neural impulses.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): The part of the nervous system that consists of nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord, connecting the central nervous system (CNS) to limbs and organs