fascia

(făsh'ē-ə)

1. Anatomy. A sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue enveloping, separating, or binding together muscles, organs, and other soft structures of the body.
2. A broad and distinct band of color.
3. (also fā'shē-ə) Architecture. A flat horizontal band or member between moldings, especially in a classical entablature.
4. (fā'shə) Chiefly British. The dashboard of a motor vehicle.

[Latin, band.]

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Tough connective tissue which may be superficial or deep. Superficial fascia is fatty and lies under the skin. It forms a lining separating the skin from the deep fascia. Deep fascia usually ensheathes muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and organs; it contains dense elastic tissue to give it flexibility.

1. One of two or three bands on a Classical architrave, each projecting slightly beyond the one below, often separated by enriched mouldings.

2. Any band or belt with a plain vertical face, such as a fascia-board at eaves-level.

3. Deep board over a shop-front on which lettering is placed.

A tough, white fibrous connective tissue which may be superficial or deep. Superficial fascia is fatty and underlies the skin, forming a lining separating the skin from the deep fascia. Deep fascia ensheathes muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and organs, providing protection and support. It contains dense elastic tissue.

Pl. fasciae [L.] a sheet or band of fibrous tissue such as lies deep to the skin or invests muscles and various body organs.

• f. adherens — one of the methods of attachment of actin filaments to the sarcolemma in cardiac muscle; a continuous zone of attachment.
• aponeurotic f. — a dense, firm, fibrous membrane investing the trunk and limbs and giving off sheaths to the various muscles. Called also deep fascia.
• f. cribrosa — the superficial fascia of the thigh covering the saphenous opening.
• croup and thigh f. — extensive sheets between muscle masses giving appearance of distinct molding of muscles, especially when horses in hard training; gives extensive attachments to muscle fascicles and serves as an energy store.
• crural f. — the investing fascia of the leg.
• deep f. — aponeurotic fascia.
• endothoracic f. — that beneath the serous lining of the thoracic cavity.
• extrapleural f. — a prolongation of the endothoracic fascia sometimes found at the root of the neck, important as possibly modifying the auscultatory sounds at the apex of the lung.
• iliac f. — covers the iliopsoas muscle below the wing of the ilium.
• f. lata — the external investing fascia of the thigh. An implant of this fascia is used in operation to correct penile deviation in the bull and for reconstruction of a ruptured anterior (cranial) cruciate ligament in dogs.
• leg f. — a colloquial, non-anatomic term for the extensive fascia, especially in horses, which converts the upper limb into a series of osteofascial compartments. Consists of a superficial layer continuous with the thigh fascia, a middle layer formed by extensive aponeuroses, e.g. tensor facia lata, biceps, semitendinosus, gracilis, sartorius muscles, and a deep layer between muscles and attaching them to the tibia.
• orbital f. — three layers connecting muscles to bone, the eyeball and eyelids.
• spermatic f. — dense fascia surrounding the spermatic cord and testes; internal to the tunica dartos; in layers corresponding to the layers of abdominal muscle; an internal layer adherent to the tunica vaginalis and an external layer adherent to the skin.
• superficial f. — 1. a fascial sheet lying directly beneath the skin.
— 2. subcutaneous tissue.
• thyrolaryngeal f. — the fascia covering the thyroid gland and attached to the cricoid cartilage.
• transverse f. — that between the transversalis muscle and the peritoneum.

The fibrous connective tissue of the body that may be separated from other specifically organized fibrous structures such as the tendons, the aponeuroses, and the ligaments. Fascia generally covers and separates muscles and muscle groups.

• Tissue, Fiber, and Integumentary System - fascia: thin layer of connective tissue around and between muscles or organs
• Building and Machine Parts - fascia: flat, vertical member of cornice attached to outer edge of eave at end of rafter
• Waistbands and Belts - fascia: broad, distinctly colored band worn at waist
• Building Construction and Design - fascia: vertical boards at end of rafter forming face of cornice and attached to overhanging outer edge of roof

Not to be confused with fassia, fuchsia, or fascism.

For other uses, see Fascia (disambiguation).

Fascia
The rectus sheath, an example of a fascia.
Latin	fascia
Gray's	subject #104 376
Precursor	mesenchyme
MeSH	Fascia

A fascia ( /ˈfæʃiə/; plural fasciae /ˈfæʃɨ.aɪ/; adjective fascial; from latin: "band") is a layer of fibrous tissue.^[1] A fascia is a structure of connective tissue that surrounds muscles, groups of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, binding some structures together, while permitting others to slide smoothly over each other.^[2] Various kinds of fascia consists of distinct layers, depending on their functions and their anatomical location: a superficial fascia, a deep fascia, and a subserous (or visceral) fascia and extends uninterrupted from the head to the tip of the toes.^[3]

Like ligaments, aponeuroses, and tendons, fasciae are dense regular connective tissues, containing closely packed bundles of collagen fibers oriented in a wavy pattern parallel to the direction of pull. Fasciae are consequently flexible structures able to resist great unidirectional tension forces until the wavy pattern of fibers has been straightened out by the pulling force. These collagen fibers are produced by the fibroblasts located within the fascia.^[2]

Fasciae are similar to ligaments and tendons as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, tendons join muscle to bone and fasciae connect muscles to other muscles.

Contents 1 Definition 2 Function 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

Definition

There exists some controversy about what structures are considered "fascia", and how fascia should be classified.^[4] The two most common systems are:

• the one specified in the 1983 edition of Nomina Anatomica (NA 1983)
• the one specified in the 1997 edition of Terminologia Anatomica (TA 1997)

NA 1983	TA 1997	Description	Example
Superficial fascia	(not considered fascia in this system)	This is found in the subcutis in most regions of the body, blending with the reticular layer of the dermis.[5]	Fascia of Scarpa
Deep fascia	Fascia of muscles	This is the dense fibrous connective tissue that interpenetrates and surrounds the muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels of the body.	Transversalis fascia
Visceral fascia	Visceral fascia, parietal fascia	This suspends the organs within their cavities and wraps them in layers of connective tissue membranes.	Pericardium

Function

Fasciae are normally thought of as passive structures that transmit mechanical tension generated by muscular activities or external forces throughout the body. Some research suggest that fasciae might be able to contract independently and thus actively influence muscle dynamics.^[6]

The function of muscle fasciae is to reduce friction to minimize the reduction of muscular force. In doing so, fasciae:

1.Provide a sliding and gliding environment for muscles.

2.Suspend organs in their proper place.

3.Transmit movement from muscle to the bones they are attached to.

4.Provide a supportive and movable wrapping for nerves and blood vessels as they pass through and between muscles. ^[7]

See also

• Fasciotomy
• Myofascial release

References

1. ^ "fascia" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
2. ^ ^{a b} Marieb, Elaine Nicpon; Hoehn, Katja (2007). Human anatomy & physiology. Pearson Education. p. 133. ISBN 9780321372949. http://books.google.com/books?id=x1uEB68iitwC&pg=PA133. 
3. ^ "Self Myofascial Release". http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/self-myofascial-release.html. Retrieved 2010-08-17. 
4. ^ Committee on Anatomical Termi, Federative. Terminologia Anatomica: International Anatomical Terminology. Thieme Stuttgart. pp. 33. ISBN 3-13-114361-4. 
5. ^ Skandalakis, John E.; Skandalakis, P.N.; Skandalakis, L.J.; Skandalakis, J. (2002). Surgical Anatomy and Technique, 2nd Ed.. Atlanta, GA: Springer. pp. 1–2. ISBN 0-38798-752-5. 
6. ^ Schleip, R; Klingler, F; Horn, F (2005). "Active fascial contractility: Fascia may be able to contract in a smooth muscle-like manner and thereby influence musculoskeletal dynamics". Medical Hypotheses 65 (2): 273–7. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2005.03.005. PMID 15922099. 
7. ^ Faller, A; Schuenke, M (2004) The Human Body, Thieme, p 127

External links

Look up fascia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Fascia Research
• lesson1layersofbody at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)

v d e Muscular system (TA A04.0, GA 4.361) Topics Muscular tissue · Muscles of the human body Types of muscles Cardiac muscle · Skeletal muscle · Smooth muscle Other Unipennate muscle · Bipennate muscle · Origin · Insertion · Fascia (Superficial fascia, Deep fascia, Visceral fascia) · Tendon/Aponeurosis · Fascial compartment M: MUS, DF+DRCT anat (h/n, u, t/d, a/p, l)/phys/devp/hist noco(m, s, c)/cong(d)/tumr, sysi/epon, injr proc, drug (M1A/3)

v d e List of muscles of head and neck: the head (TA A04.1, GA 4.378) Extraocular (CN III, IV, VI) oblique (inferior, superior) · rectus (superior, inferior, medial, lateral) · levator palpebrae superioris (superior tarsal) Mastication (CN V3) masseter · temporalis (sphenomandibularis) · pterygoid (lateral, medial) fascia: Masseteric fascia · Temporal fascia · Deep portion: cementomaxillary tendon · Superficial portion: cementomandibular tendon Facial (CN VII) Ear auricular (anterior, superior, posterior) · temporoparietalis Scalp/eyelid occipitofrontalis (occipitalis, frontalis) · orbicularis oculi (depressor supercilii) · corrugator supercilii fascia: Galea aponeurotica Nose procerus · nasalis (dilatator naris) · depressor septi nasi  · levator labii superioris alaeque nasi Mouth levator anguli oris · levator labii superioris · zygomaticus (major, minor) orbicularis oris · risorius · buccinator depressor anguli oris · depressor labii inferioris · mentalis Palate/fauces (CN IX, X, XI) (except TVP=V3) veli palatini (tensor, levator) · musculus uvulae · palatopharyngeus (to pharynx) · palatoglossus (to tongue) Tongue (CN XII) extrinsic (genioglossus, hyoglossus/chondroglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus) · intrinsic (superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, transverse, vertical) M: MUS, DF+DRCT anat (h/n, u, t/d, a/p, l)/phys/devp/hist noco(m, s, c)/cong(d)/tumr, sysi/epon, injr proc, drug (M1A/3)

v d e List of muscles of head and neck: the neck (TA A04.2, GA 4.387) Cervical CN VII (superficial, PC): platysma CN XI (deep): sternocleidomastoid C1–C6 (anterior): Prevertebral muscles: longus (capitis, colli) C3–C8 (lateral): scalene (anterior, medius, posterior) Suboccipital C1: rectus capitis posterior (major, minor) · obliquus capitis (inferior, superior) C1–C6 (anterior): Prevertebral muscles: rectus capitis (anterior, lateralis) Suprahyoid CN V3 (medial): mylohyoid · anterior belly of digastric CN VII (lateral): stylohyoid · posterior belly of digastric C1 (deep): geniohyoid Infrahyoid/strap C1: thyrohyoid C1–C3: sternohyoid  · sternothyroid · omohyoid Fasciae Deep cervical fascia (Pretracheal fascia, Prevertebral fascia, Investing layer) · Carotid sheath · Alar fascia pharynx: Buccopharyngeal fascia · Pharyngobasilar fascia Palatine aponeurosis Pharyngeal raphe Pharynx pharyngeal constrictor (superior, middle, inferior) · longitudinal (stylopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus) Larynx cricothyroid · cricoarytenoid (posterior, lateral) · arytenoid (oblique arytenoid/aryepiglottic, transverse arytenoid) · thyroarytenoid (vocal, thyroepiglottic) M: MUS, DF+DRCT anat (h/n, u, t/d, a/p, l)/phys/devp/hist noco(m, s, c)/cong(d)/tumr, sysi/epon, injr proc, drug (M1A/3)

v d e List of muscles of thorax and back (TA A04.3–4, GA 4.397) Back splenius (capitis, cervicis) · erector spinae (iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis) · latissimus dorsi transversospinales: (semispinalis dorsi, semispinalis cervicis, semispinalis capitis, multifidus, rotatores) · interspinales · intertransversarii Vertebral column: trapezius · latissimus dorsi · rhomboid (major, minor) · levator scapulae fascia: Thoracolumbar fascia Thorax intercostales (external, internal, innermost) · subcostales · transversus thoracis · levatores costarum · serratus posterior (inferior, superior) · diaphragm Thoracic cavity: pectoralis major · pectoralis minor · subclavius · serratus anterior fascia: Pectoral fascia · Clavipectoral fascia M: MUS, DF+DRCT anat (h/n, u, t/d, a/p, l)/phys/devp/hist noco(m, s, c)/cong(d)/tumr, sysi/epon, injr proc, drug (M1A/3)

v d e List of muscles of abdominopelvic cavity (TA A04.5, GA 4.408) Abdomen/ wall Anterior/ lateral Muscle Abdominal external oblique · Transversus abdominis/Conjoint tendon · Rectus sheath (rectus abdominis, pyramidalis) · Arcuate line · Tendinous intersection Cremaster · Abdominal internal oblique Fascia Fascia/abdominal fascia: panniculus adiposus (Fascia of Camper) · stratum membranosum (Fascia of Scarpa) · Transversalis fascia (Interfoveolar ligament) Linea alba · Linea semilunaris · Inguinal triangle Inguinal canal (Deep inguinal ring, Superficial inguinal ring, Intercrural fibers, Crura of superficial inguinal ring) Inguinal ligament (Pectineal ligament, Lacunar ligament, Reflected ligament) Posterior Muscle quadratus lumborum · psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus Fascia iliopsoas fascia (Iliac fascia/Iliopectineal arch) Pelvis Muscle levator ani (iliococcygeus, pubococcygeus, puborectalis) · coccygeus Fascia fascia/pelvic fascia visceral (Rectovaginal fascia, Rectoprostatic fascia) · parietal (Obturator fascia/Tendinous arch, Piriformis fascia) floor/diaphragm: Superior fascia of pelvic diaphragm (Pubovesical ligament, Puboprostatic ligament) · Inferior fascia of pelvic diaphragm Anococcygeal body M: MUS, DF+DRCT anat (h/n, u, t/d, a/p, l)/phys/devp/hist noco(m, s, c)/cong(d)/tumr, sysi/epon, injr proc, drug (M1A/3)

v d e List of muscles of upper limbs (TA A04.6, GA 4.432) Shoulder deltoid · rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) · teres major fascia: Deltoid fascia · Supraspinous fascia · Infraspinous fascia Arm (compartments) Anterior coracobrachialis · biceps brachii · brachialis Posterior triceps brachii · anconeus · Articularis cubiti Fascia Axillary sheath · Axillary fascia · Brachial fascia · intermuscular septa (Lateral, Medial) Other spaces (Quadrangular space, Triangular space, Triangular interval) Forearm Anterior superficial: pronator teres · palmaris longus · flexor carpi radialis · flexor carpi ulnaris · flexor digitorum superficialis deep: pronator quadratus · flexor digitorum profundus · flexor pollicis longus Posterior superficial: mobile wad (brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis) · extensor digitorum · extensor digiti minimi · extensor carpi ulnaris deep: supinator · anatomical snuff box (abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus) · extensor indicis Fascia Bicipital aponeurosis · common tendons (Extensor, Flexor) · Antebrachial fascia Other Cubital tunnel Hand Lateral volar thenar (opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis) · adductor pollicis Medial volar hypothenar (opponens digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, abductor digiti minimi) · palmaris brevis Intermediate lumbrical · interossei (dorsal, palmar) Fascia posterior: Extensor retinaculum · Extensor expansion anterior: Flexor retinaculum · Palmar aponeurosis M: MUS, DF+DRCT anat (h/n, u, t/d, a/p, l)/phys/devp/hist noco(m, s, c)/cong(d)/tumr, sysi/epon, injr proc, drug (M1A/3)

v d e List of muscles of lower limbs (TA A04.7, GA 4.465) ILIAC Region / ILIOPSOAS psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus BUTTOCKS gluteals: (maximus, medius, minimus) · tensor fasciae latae lateral rotator group: quadratus femoris · inferior gemellus · obturator internus · superior gemellus · piriformis THIGH / compartments Anterior sartorius · quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis) · articularis genu Posterior/hamstring biceps femoris · semitendinosus · semimembranosus Medial pectineus · obturator externus · gracilis · adductor (longus, brevis, magnus, minimus) Fascia Femoral sheath (Femoral canal) · Femoral ring Adductor canal · Adductor hiatus fascia lata (Iliotibial tract, Lateral intermuscular septum of thigh, Medial intermuscular septum of thigh, Fascia cribrosa/Saphenous opening) · Muscular lacuna LEG/ Crus/ compartments Anterior tibialis anterior · extensor hallucis longus · extensor digitorum longus · fibularis tertius Posterior superficial · triceps surae (gastrocnemius, soleus, accessory soleus, Achilles tendon) · plantaris deep · tarsal tunnel (flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior) · popliteus Lateral fibularis muscles (longus, brevis) Fascia Pes anserinus crural fascia (Anterior crural intermuscular septum, Posterior crural intermuscular septum, Transverse intermuscular septum) FOOT Dorsal extensor hallucis brevis · extensor digitorum brevis Plantar 1st layer (abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, abductor digiti minimi) · 2nd layer (quadratus plantae, lumbrical muscle) · 3rd layer (flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, flexor digiti minimi brevis) · 4th layer (dorsal interossei, plantar interossei) Fascia Plantar fascia retinacula (Fibular, Inferior extensor, Superior extensor, Flexor) M: MUS, DF+DRCT anat (h/n, u, t/d, a/p, l)/phys/devp/hist noco(m, s, c)/cong(d)/tumr, sysi/epon, injr proc, drug (M1A/3)

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - instrumentbræt, facadebånd, muskelhinde, forbinding

Nederlands (Dutch)
dashboard, lang recht stuk steen etc. in een gebouw, naambordje, verbindend/ bedekkend weefsel, band/strip

Français (French)
n. - (GB, Aut) tableau de bord, (GB) panneau, (Zool, Bot) bande, (Anat) fascia

Deutsch (German)
n. - Armaturenbrett

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - ταινία, λωρίδα, (ανατ.) περιτονία, απονεύρωση

Italiano (Italian)
(anat.) fascia, cruscotto

Português (Portuguese)
n. - fáscia (Med.)

Русский (Russian)
поясок, приборная доска

Español (Spanish)
n. - faja, venda, vendaje, banda o anillo, salpicadero, vincha, faja horizontal relativamente ancha como una cornisa, (zool) faja de tejido conjuntivo

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - band, list, firmaskylt, instrument (bräda), bindvävshinna (anat.), bandage, strimma

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
饰带, 招牌

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 飾帶, 招牌

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 띠, 붕대, (건축) 지붕 끝 , (동물)근막

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 計器盤, 看板

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) لفافه , رباط‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮לוח, סרט, לוח המכסה את קצות הקורות, שיכבה על כרכובי העמודים באדריכלות הקלסית‬

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