Fascia

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Fascia is a band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs. Fascia is classified by layer into superficial fascia, deep fascia, and visceral fascia or parietal fascia.

Types of Fascia

Superficial Fascia

Superficial fascia is the lowermost layer of the skin in nearly all of the regions of the body that blends with the reticular layer of the dermis. It is composed of loose connective tissue and fat.

Deep Fascia

Deep fascia is a layer of dense connective tissue which can surround individual muscles and also divide groups of muscles into compartments. It is devoid of fat and is highly vascular.

Visceral and Parietal Fascia

Visceral fascia (or subserous fascia) suspends the organs within their cavities and wraps them in layers of connective tissue membranes. Parietal fascia lines the body wall and is continuous with the visceral fascia.

Functions

Fascia has several important functions:

• It provides a supportive and movable wrapping for nerves and blood vessels as they pass through and between muscles.
• It reduces friction to minimize the reduction of muscle force.
• It supports and protects organs.
• It forms a framework that ensures the proper alignment of muscle fibers, blood vessels, and nerves.

Clinical Significance

Fascia can be involved in various medical conditions:

• Fasciitis: Inflammation of the fascia, often due to infection or autoimmune disease.
• Plantar fasciitis: A common cause of heel pain.
• Compartment syndrome: Increased pressure within a fascial compartment, often due to trauma.

See Also

• Connective tissue
• Muscle
• Organ (anatomy)
• Inflammation
• Compartment syndrome