Morphological features of fascia lata in relation to fascia diseases

ABSTRACT

Fascia lata is an important element of the fascial system, which forms the continuum of connective tissue throughout the body. This deep fascia envelops the entire thigh and hip area and its main function is to transmit mechanical forces generated by the musculoskeletal system of the lower extremities. Fascia lata is also known as a useful and easily harvested graft material. Despite its crucial role in lower extremity biomechanics and wide-ranging applications in plastic and reconstructive surgery, both the structure of fascia lata and particularly the cells populating this tissue are relatively unexplored and therefore poorly understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the main cell populations encountered within human fascia lata and to try to understand their role in health and diseases. Pathologically unchanged human fascia lata was obtained post mortem from adult males. The specimens were analyzed under light, electron, and confocal microscopy. On the basis of different visualization techniques, we were able to characterize in detail the cells populating human fascia lata. The main cells found were fibroblasts, fibrocytes, mast cells, cells showing myoid differentiation, nerve cells, and most interestingly, telocytes. Our results supplement the formerly inadequate information in the literature regarding the cellular components of deep fascial structure, may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of fascial disorders and improve fascia lata application as a graft material.

KEYWORDS:

• Collagen
• elastin
• electron and confocal microscopy
• fascia lata
• iliotibial band syndrome
• telocytes

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank MSc Łukasz Mielańczyk for his technical support. TEM analysis was performed in the School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, using equipment financed by the “Silesian Bio-farma” program with infrastructure supported by POIG.02.03.01-24-099/13.

Declaration of interest

The authors confirm that there are no conflicts of interest.

Funding

The work was financed by grants from Wroclaw Medical University, Poland—National Science Centre [grant no. N N518 286540].

Additional information

Funding

The work was financed by grants from Wroclaw Medical University, Poland—National Science Centre [grant no. N N518 286540].