1. Biomechanical properties of the fascial system.
- Author
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Bonaldi, Lorenza, Berardo, Alice, Pirri, Carmelo, Stecco, Carla, and Fontanella, Chiara Giulia
- Subjects
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FASCIAE (Anatomy) , *CONNECTIVE tissues , *FAT cells , *ISLANDS of Langerhans , *MEDICAL rehabilitation - Abstract
The "fascial system" has been defined as a fascial network involved in functional aspects such as force transmission. The fascial system comprises the superficial and deep fasciae which are connected through skin ligaments, also known as retinacula, providing a continuity from the skin to the muscular plane (See Figure). Indeed, superficial and deep fascia roles in clinical disorders have been shown to reflect their structures. Specifically, the superficial fascia has been described anatomically as an irregular multilamellar structure of interconnected substrates with islets of fat cells. Meanwhile, for example, the deep aponeurotic fascia consists of multilayered structures of dense and loose connective tissues, where collagen fibers follow specific directions. Since the properties of superficial and deep fasciae mimic their structural organization, the biomechanical characterization of these tissues is key to understanding how they influence each other. Despite the clinical impact of these arguments, to date, the literature is still poor in data comparing different substrates of the fascial system through mechanical tests. Therefore, the aim of this work is to investigate this open topic by presenting the biomechanical properties of both superficial and deep fasciae. The study highlights how these tissues have different biomechanical properties in relation to their specific structures and functions. These results have a direct impact in the medical field such as in the surgical treatment of soft tissue repair or reconstruction, as well as in rehabilitation intervention (e.g., manual treatment). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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