fascia

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.]

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.

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.

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.

Not to be confused with Fuchsia or Fascism.

For other uses, see Fascia (disambiguation).

Fascia
Latin	fascia
Gray's	subject #104 376
Precursor	mesenchyme
MeSH	Fascia

Fascia (făsh'ē-ə), pl. fas·ci·ae (făsh'ē-ē), adj. fascial (făsh'ē-əl) (from latin: a band) is the soft tissue component of the connective tissue system that permeates the human body. It interpenetrates and surrounds muscles, bones, organs, nerves, blood vessels and other structures. Fascia is an uninterrupted, three-dimensional web of tissue that extends from head to toe, from front to back, from interior to exterior. It is responsible for maintaining structural integrity; for providing support and protection; and acts as a shock absorber. Fascia has an essential role in hemodynamic and biochemical processes, and provides the medium that allows for intercellular communication. Fascia functions as the body's second line of defense against pathogenic agents and infections after the skin^{[citation needed]}. After injury, it is the fascia that creates an environment for tissue repair. ^[1]

Contents 1 Layers of the fascia 2 Fascial pathology 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

Layers of the fascia

There exists some controversy about what structures are considered "fascia", and how fascia should be classified.^[2] 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		This is found in the subcutis in most regions of the body, blending with the reticular layer of the dermis. [3]	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

Fascial pathology

• Adhesions
• Adhesive capsulitis
• Benign joint hypermobility syndrome
• Calcific tendinitis
• Cardiac tamponade
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Cellulitis
• Compartment syndrome
• Constrictive pericarditis
• Dermatomyositis
• Dupuytren's contracture
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Eosinophilic fasciitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Hemopneumothorax
• Hemothorax
• Hernia
• Marfan's syndrome
• Meningitis
• Mixed connective tissue disease
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Necrotizing fasciitis
• Pericardial effusion
• Pericarditis
• Peritonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Pleural effusion
• Pleurisy
• Pneumoperitoneum
• Pneumothorax
• Polyarteritis nodosa
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Scars
• Scleroderma
• Scoliosis
• Sprain
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Tendinitis
• Wegener's granulomatosis

References

1. ^ Paoletti, Serge (2006). The Fasciae: Anatomy, Dysfunction & Treatment. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press. pp. 151–161. ISBN 0-939616-53-X. 
2. ^ Committee on Anatomical Termi, Federative. Terminologia Anatomica: International Anatomical Terminology. Thieme Stuttgart. pp. 33. ISBN 3-13-114361-4. 
3. ^ 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. 

See also

Look up fascia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Acupuncture
• Fasciotomy
• Myofascial Release

External links

• Fascia Research
• Fascia Research Congress
• Dr. Robert Schleip on the Books and Ideas Podcast (2007)
• 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 muscle, DF+DRCT navs: anat/hist/physio, acquired myopathy/congenital myopathy/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

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 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 Mouth/throat (CN IX, X, XI) (except TVP=V3) Soft palate 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)

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)

v • d • e List of muscles of torso (TA A04.3-5, 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 Abdominopelvic Abdomen/ wall Anterior/ lateral Abdominal external oblique · Transversus abdominis/Conjoint tendon · Rectus sheath (rectus abdominis, pyramidalis) · Arcuate line · Tendinous intersection Cremaster · Abdominal internal oblique 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 quadratus lumborum · psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus  · iliopsoas fascia (Iliac fascia/Iliopectineal arch) Pelvis levator ani (iliococcygeus, pubococcygeus, puborectalis) · coccygeus 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

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 minimi digiti) · palmaris brevis Intermediate lumbrical · interossei (dorsal, palmar) Fascia posterior: Extensor retinaculum · Extensor expansion anterior: Flexor retinaculum · Palmar aponeurosis

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) 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) LEG/ Crus/ compartments Anterior tibialis anterior · extensor hallucis longus · extensor digitorum longus · peroneus 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 peroneus 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 (Peroneal, Inferior extensor, Superior extensor, Flexor)

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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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