title: Elastic fibers in the anterior abdominal wall.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to substantiate the hypothesis as to whether an altered amount of elastic fibers in the linea alba aponeurosis occurs or not in anterior abdominal wall hernias (epigastric, incisional and umbilical), comparing the findings with those of a control group of cadavers without hernias.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients (15 males and 15 females) with anterior abdominal wall hernias were evaluated for analysis of the elastin content in samples from the linea alba aponeurosis, with immunohistochemistry and orcein staining using videomorphometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a greater amount of elastin in patients with abdominal wall hernias compared to the control group of cadavers without hernias (P < 0.05). The elastic fibers were greatly thickened, tortuous and fragmented in the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is essential to analyze the anterior abdominal wall concerning its anatomical condition and histological components. Altered collagen and elastic fibers play an important role in hernia formation, indicating that the main factor may be biological.
authors.affiliation: Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, Rua Pedro Tomasi, 937/701, Caxias do Sul, RS, 455-95084-320, Brazil. dr.aldo@terra.com.br
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fachinelli
authors.forename: M R M
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Fachinelli
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D004549:Elastin / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010078:Oxazines; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D010078:Oxazines; C002313:PAcein; D004549:Elastin