FASCIA

     Fascia is a part of connective tissue system, fascia is a tough connective tissue that spreads throughout the body in a three dimensional web from head to foot without interruption.(Barnes,1990). Fascia covers all the structures includes bones, nerves, muscles, organs, vessels and even the cellular structures. Fascia consists of elastin, collagen, and a ground substance.

     Collagen fibers are protein that provides strength to prevent breakdowns due to tension. Elastin, which is also a protein is comparable to rubber and can easily stretch in both length and width. Elastin absorbs tensile forces along with the collagen fibers. (Barnes, 1990). Ground matter found between the fibers of collagen and elastin, is composed of proteoglycans and hyaluroinc acid. Proteoglycans allow ground matter to absorb and disseminate compressive forces throughout the body. Hyaluronic acid is viscous and provides lubrication to enable more easily gliding of collagen, elastin and muscle fibers over one another.

Structural arrangement of Fascia :

Fascia has two basic structural arrangements –

·   Loose areolar such as is found in fascial bundles, and

·   Dense irregular such as is found in fascial coverings of muscles and the connective tissue of tendons.

There are cellular components to fascia which are Fibroblasts that manufacture structural proteins, Mast cells that will degranulate releasing histamine in immune responses, and Histiocytes that are macrophages or immune cells. The cellular components have adaptability and will change based upon the stimulus.

There are also subcellular components to fascia which are Collagen that makes up the reticular fibers, Elastic fibers that give fascia its property of returning to its previous shape, and Glycosaminoglycans which are sugar-protein complexes that make up the ground substance within the fascia and of course the subcellular components also have adaptability.

The subcellular component that contributes greatly to the strength of fascia is Collagen. The collagen is arranged in such a way that it coils about itself in a triple helix pattern that is further supported by biochemical cross-linking that occurs in a regular pattern thus it has periodicity.  This arrangement and chemical bonding gives fascia great tensile strength making it resistant to tearing, but at the same time able to readily change its shape and length to adapt to demands that are placed upon it.

Collagen forms reticular fibers which are prominently seen in our bodies.  Scaffolding is the arrangement that is used when a sponge-like arrangement is needed.  This arrangement leads to turbulence of fluids which is particularly useful when immune responses are needed.  This arrangement is most prominently observed in lymphoid tissue such as the lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen.

Elastic fibers are another form of subcellular fascial component.  Elastic fibers possess cross-linkage as does Collagen fibers.  This gives it both strength and flexibility.  The term elasticity refers to the ability of something to return to its original shape after it has been distorted.  This is a very important property and good examples of this are seen in the tissue of the aorta and the lung.

The extracellular matrix is present in fascia and is made up predominately of Collagen and Glycosaminoglycans.  This combination is found in the ground substance and has a highly negative charge.  This is important because negative charges attract water. When water and proteins are mixed a gel is formed.  Gels will allow for diffusion of cells and nutrients.  Also, gels have particular properties that change with pressure and temperature which are important factors that are considered and utilized in myofascial release techniques.

The types of collagen present, amount of water available, and other mechanical factors will ultimately determine the nature of the fascia.  These factors will be altered in diseases, injuries, and somatic dysfunctions.

General Properties of Fascia

The properties of fascia are determined by its structure.

Viscosity – has two definitions –

·        A measurement of the rate of deformation of any material under load.

·        The capability possessed by a solid of yielding continually under stress.

Elasticity – the definition has already been given, but here it is again –

·        The ability of a strained body or tissue to recover its shape after deformation.

Plasticity – The ability to retain a shape attained by deformation.

·        These properties will prove to be very important later when we palpate and treat using myofascial release techniques.

FUNCTIONS OF FASCIA

ü  Mechanical,

o   Mechanical gives rise to support, compartmentalization, and conduits

ü  Metabolic, and

o   Metabolic gives rise to diffusion ,  has gel properties, and to energy storage in the concept of elastic potential energy as well as fatty storage for fuel.

ü  Immunologic. 

o   Immunologic has been addressed earlier as well, plus the additional concept of acting as a physical barrier.

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