5 Fascia
Fascia:
Imagine you need to transport something incredibly valuable, like a delicate glass sculpture. Naturally, you’d want to protect it from any bumps and jolts along the way. First, you’d wrap it in a soft layer of cloth, then add some bubble wrap for extra cushioning, and finally, place it carefully inside a sturdy cardboard box. Each layer serves a purpose, ensuring your precious cargo arrives safely.
Now, picture your body’s fascia as the ultimate protective wrapping for all the important structures beneath your skin. The fascia is a connective tissue that not only provides support and protection but also separates and envelopes muscles, organs, and other internal parts. Just like our well-protected sculpture, the fascia has different layers and subtypes, each with a specific role in keeping your body in tip-top shape:
Table 6 Types of Fascia
| Types of Fascia | Description: |
| Superficial fascia (subcutaneous tissue) | The outermost layer beneath the skin contains variable amounts of fatty tissue |
| Investing fascia (can be divided into superficial, intermediate and deep) | Covers individual muscle groups |
| Endoabdominal fascia: | A membranous sheet lining the internal aspect of the abdominal wall before the peritoneum |
Below is an image of the gluteal region (which is located on the posterior side of the body), taken from the Bassett Collection (179-5). Using what you learned, try to identify the fascia indicated by the (?) Hint: this fascia is named after two segments of the spine.
Figure 5 Posterior view of fascia of the gluteal region