title: 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.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mechatronics and Theory of Mechanisms, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering , Wrocław University of Science and Technology , Wrocław , Poland.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szotek
authors.affiliation: b Veterinary Clinic "Brynów" , Katowice , Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dawidowicz
authors.affiliation: c Christie NHS Foundation Trust , Manchester , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eyden
authors.affiliation: d Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze , Medical University of Silesia , Zabrze , Poland.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matysiak
authors.affiliation: e Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology , University of Wrocław , Wrocław , Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czogalla
authors.affiliation: f Chair of EM Field Theory, Electronic Circuits and Optoelectronics, Faculty of Electronics , Wrocław University of Science and Technology , Wrocław , Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dudzik
authors.affiliation: g Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Metallurgy Division, Faculty of Chemistry , Wrocław University of Science and Technology , Wrocław , Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leśniewicz
authors.affiliation: h Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine , Wroclaw Medical University , Wrocław , Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maksymowicz
mesh_terms: D005206:Fascia Lata; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells
keywords: Collagen; elastin; electron and confocal microscopy; fascia lata; iliotibial band syndrome; telocytes