Fascia MEDS1002

Define fascia

A layer of strong, flexible connective tissue that covers, separates, or holds together different organs, muscles, vessels, and nerves

What type of tissue is fascia

Fascia is connective tissue made of fibroblast cells and collagen fibres

What type of fascia connects muscle to bone

Aponeuroses
Tendons also connect muscle to bone but arent classified as fascia

What type of fascia covers internal organs

Visceral fascia

What type of fascia lines body cavities

Parietal fascia

How does fascia appear through a microscope

Mostly dense regular (even and parallel) tissue
Can be dense and irregular like the skin
Collagen fibres arranged in bundles
Blood vessels running through
Adipose cells and nerves present too

What are the different categories of fascia?

Superficial
Deep
Visceral
Parietal

Explain the structure and location of Superficial fascia

Lies just beneath the skin
Thickest in our trunk
Loose connective tissue & adipose (fat)
Contains sweat glands, vessels & cutaneous nerves

Where does most body fat lie

Most body fat lies between superficial and deep fascia

State and explain the 5 classifications of deep fascia

Epimysial- surrounds muscles
Intermuscular septa - creates functional compartments ie separates muscle groups
Aponeuroses - wide attachment area
Retinacula - surrounds joints
Investing - surround neurovascular bundles

Explain the location and structure of deep fascia

Dense regular/irregular connective tissue often find adipose between the superficial and deep fascia
Deep fascia is found above muscles - visceral, or lining body cavities- parietal

Explain the location and structure of aponeuroses

Sheet of pearly-white connective tissue

When dissected, aponeuroses are papery and peel off easily

Examples are in the ventral abdominal region, the dorsal lumbar region, and the palmar (palms of hands) and plantar (soles of feet) regions.

Explain the function of aponeuroses

Attaches sheet-like muscles needing a wide area of attachment to bone

Explain what happens to the abdominal aponeuroses during pregnancy

Will stretch and maybe tear and cause a line to appear running down through belly button - known as diastasis recti

Explain the location and function of visceral fascia

Surrounds the organs of the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities

Visceral Serosa is made of the visceral fascia underneath + a layer of simple squamous epithelial cells

The epithelial cells secrete a fluid to reduce friction as the organ moves

Explain the location and function of parietal fascia

Lines the walls of the body cavities

Give 3 examples of serous fascia membranes

Pleura - envelops the lungs
Pericardium - envelops the heart
Peritoneum - envelops the abdominal cavity

Explain the pericardium

Pericardium is a protection layer (its a double layer sac, one layer is visceral fascia, one layer is parietal fascia) that wraps around the heart to provide frictionless movement when the heart beats.

Explain the purpose/ function of superficial fascia

o Protection & cushioning of underlying structures from external impact
o Fat storage site
o Anchors the skin while still allowing movement & flexibility
o A pathway for nerves and vessels
o Contains immune cells so can respond to infection or injuries

Explain the purpose/ function of deep fascia

o Support & structural integrity of muscles etc allowing them to function independently
o Muscular force transmission via tendons, ligaments and aponeuroses
o Compartmentalization also helps prevent the spread of infections/inflammation
o Reduces friction
o Support for vessels and nerves & ensuring they are not compressed during muscle action
o resistance to tearing
o Detects changes in tension, pressure and pain, contributes to proprioception (sense of body position)

Explain how fascia is found in the palms of hands and soles of feet

Fascia is strong to protect palms and soles as there are more important parts located here
o Fat pads thicker
o More septa for tight attachment

Explain how fascia is found in the limbs

Skeletal muscles are enclosed in fascia throughout the body
o Intermuscular septa separate the muscle groups (ie biceps from triceps)
o Nerves & vessels of the group also sheathed in fascia so they don't get compressed or occluded by muscles

Explain how fascia is found in the abdominal wall

Skin - Superficial Fascia - Muscles - Deep Fascia - Parietal Peritoneum

Explain how surgeons use fascia

Surgeons use fascia to close sutures and keep them firmly in place with no tearing

Explain how fascia is found in the neck

Superficial cervical fascia is thin and contains cutaneous nerves, vessels, and fat

Deep fascia is in 3 layers called Sheaths
1. Prevertebral sheath Covers the cervical vertebrae & associated muscles Helps stabilize the neck.

2. Pretracheal sheath supportive framework for anterior neck structures allows them to move smoothly during swallowing & speaking

3. Carotid sheath contains & protects the common & internal carotid arteries, internal jugular vein, and vagus nerve

Explain how fascia is found in the scalp

S skin
C connective tissue (superficial)
A aponeuroses
L loose connective tissue
P periosteum

Move as a unit, tightly connected (when you move eyebrows, whole scalp moves)

Explain why head injuries bleed so much

Arteries cannot retract because they are held open by the fascia