Fascia Lata Flashcards
What is fascia?
Band/sheet of fibrous tissue that lies deep to the skin and lines/invests/separates different structures within the body
Fascia can be classified into which 3 categories?
Superficial
Deep
Visceral
What is superficial fascia?
Blends with the reticular layer beneath the dermis
What is deep fascia?
Envelopes muscles, bones and neurovascular structures
What is visceral fascia?
Provides membranous investments that suspend organs in their cavities
Is the fascia lata, deep or superficial? Where in the body is it found?
Deep
Thigh
Where does the fascia lata originate (proximally)?
Around the iliac crest and inguinal ligament
Where does the fascia lata end (distally)?
Bony prominences of the tibia
What happens to the fascia lata and the bony prominences of the legs?
Continues to become the deep fascia of the leg
Crural fascia
What is the name given to the deep fascia of the leg?
Crural fascia
Describe the width of the fascia lata
Varies considerably at different parts of the thigh
Where is the width of the fascia lata the thickest?
Superolateral aspect of the thigh (with fascia condensations from the gluteus maximum and gluteus mediums)
Around the knee (receives reinforcing fibres from tendons)
Where is the fascia lata the thinnest?
Where it covers the adductor muscles of the medial thigh
The deepest aspect of fascia lata gives rise to…
3 intermuscular septa that attach centrally to the femur
What do the three intermuscular septa attach to?
Centrally to the femur
What is the function of the intermuscular septa?
Divides the thigh musculature into anterior, medial and lateral compartments
Which is the strongest of the three intermuscular septa?
Lateral intermuscular septum
Why is the lateral intermuscular septum the strongest intermuscular septa?
Has reinforcement from the iliotibial tract
What is the ovoid hiatus?
Also called the saphenous opening - it is a gap in the fascia lata
Where is the ovoid hiatus/saphenous opening? What is its function?
Just inferior to the inguinal ligament
Serves as an entry point for efferent lymphatics and the great saphenous vein
What passes through the saphenous opening/ovoid hiatus?
The great saphenous vein and efferent lymphatics
Where do the great saphenous vein and efferent lymphatics respectively drain?
GSV —> Femoral Vein
Efferent lymphatics —> superficial inguinal lymph nodes
What is the cribriform fascia? Where does it develop?
The membranous tissue covering the ovoid hiatus
Inferomedially from the falciform margin of the gap
What is the name given to the membranous tissue that covers the ovoid hiatus?
Cribriform fascia
What happens in a femoral hernia?
Gastric viscera protrudes through the femoral canal
When can femoral hernias become visible? Where will the swelling present?
When they protrude through the saphenous opening
Swelling inferior to the inguinal ligament
What is the iliotibial tract?
Longitudinal thickening of the fascia lata
What strengthens the iliotibial tract?
Strengthened posteriorly by fibres from the gluteus maximus
What aspect of the thigh is the iliotibial tract on?
Lateral aspects
Where is the iliotibial tract located to and from?
Iliac tubercle —> lateral tibial condyle
What are the three main functions of the iliotibial tract?
Movement
Compartmentalisation
Muscle Sheath
What role does the ITT play in movement?
Acts an extensor, abductor and lateral rotator of the hip
Provides lateral stabilisation to the knee joint
What role does the ITT play in compartmentalisation?
Deepest aspect forms the lateral intermuscular septum of the thigh and attaches to the femur
What role does the ITT play as a muscular sheath?
Forms a sheath for the tensor fascia lata muscle
The tensor fascia lata is part of which group of muscles?
Gluteal muscles
What are some roles of the tensor fascia lata?
Acts as a flexor, abductor and internal rotator of the hip
Tenses the fascia lata
Where does the tensor fascia lata originate and attach?
Originates - iliac crest
Attaches - inserts into the anterior aspect of the iliotibial tract
What effects does stimulation and tautening of the tensor fascia lata have? (3)
Tautens the iliotibial band and braces the knee
Forces muscle groups closer together within their intermuscular septa towards the femur, centralises muscle weight and reduces overall force required for movement at the hip
Makes muscle contraction more efficient in compressing deep veins
What proximal (superior), posterior attachments does the fascia lata have? (2)
Sacrum
Coccyx
What proximal (superior), lateral attachments does the fascia lata have? (1)
Iliac crest
What proximal (superior), anterior attachments does the fascia lata have? (2)
Inguinal ligament
Superior pubic rami
What proximal (superior), medial attachments does the fascia lata have? (3)
Inferior ischiopubic rami
Ischial tuberosity
Sacrotuberous ligament
Which fascia blends with the fascia lata superiorly?
Deep iliac fascia
Which fascia blends with the fascia lata just below the inguinal ligament?
Superficial fascia
The lateral thickening of the fascia lata forms the…
Iliotibial tract
The iliotibial tract receives tendon fibres from the… (2)
Gluteus maximus
Tensor fascia lata
Where does the iliotibial tract attach to?
The lateral tibial condyle
What happens to the fascia lata inferiorly?
Becomes the deep fascia of the leg (Crural fascia)
What is the deep fascia of the leg known as?
Crural fascia
The deep aspect of the fascia lata produces three…
Intermuscular septa
The intermuscular septa attach centrally to the…
Femur
Where does the lateral septum of the intermuscular septa attach?
To the lateral lip of the linea aspera
Where do the medial and anterior septa attach?
To the medial lip of the linea aspera
Why are fascia lata grafts a popular choice to facilitate tissue regeneration and healing?
Contain particularly high concentration of connective tissue fibres which are well vascularised upon transplantation as opposed to artificial products
