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Fascial Anatomy and Histology: Advances in Molecular Biology
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Fascial Anatomy and Histology: Advances in Molecular Biology

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2025 | Viewed by 2155

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Carla Stecco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Anatomy, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 65, 35127 Padova, Italy
Interests: fascial anatomy; histology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The structural and functional importance of the fascial system has largely been overlooked by the therapeutic community in the past. Recent research has demonstrated that fascia is highly innervated and probably our most sensitive organ for proprioception, particularly the deep layers. Exteroceptive receptors appear to reside more within the superficial fascia. In addition, it is evident that there are many different types of fasciae, and each one serves multiple functional roles. The superficial fascia is more related to lymph drainage and skin tropism and has strong anatomical relationships with the superficial vessels and nerves. The deep fascia is more related to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and plays a key function in proprioception and motor coordination. Finally, the visceral fasciae support the organs and interact with the autonomic nervous system. With this Special Issue, we aim to gain a better understanding of the various features of each fascia, considering their involvement in various pathologies, such as myofascial pain, lipoedema, and fibromyalgia. Also, papers focused on the interactions between fasciae and the metabolic and immunological systems are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Carla Stecco
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fascia
  • connective tissue
  • myofascial pain
  • collagen
  • hyaluronan

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 10162 KiB  
Article
Repetitive Overuse Injury Causes Entheseal Damage and Palmar Muscle Fibrosis in Older Rats
by Parth R. Patel, Istvan P. Tamas, Megan Van Der Bas, Abby Kegg, Brendan A. Hilliard, Alex G. Lambi, Steven N. Popoff and Mary F. Barbe
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13546; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413546 - 18 Dec 2024
Viewed by 727
Abstract
Overuse injury is a frequent diagnosis in occupational medicine and athletics. Using an established model of upper extremity overuse, we sought to characterize changes occurring in the forepaws and forelimbs of mature female rats (14–18 months of age). Thirty-three rats underwent a 4-week [...] Read more.
Overuse injury is a frequent diagnosis in occupational medicine and athletics. Using an established model of upper extremity overuse, we sought to characterize changes occurring in the forepaws and forelimbs of mature female rats (14–18 months of age). Thirty-three rats underwent a 4-week shaping period, before performing a high-repetition low-force (HRLF) task for 12 weeks, with the results being compared to 32 mature controls. HRLF animals showed a reduced grip strength versus controls. ELISAs carried out in the HRLF rats, versus controls, showed elevated levels of IL1-α in tendons, IL1-α and TNF-α in distal bones/entheses, and TNF-α, MIP1-α/CCL3, and CINC-2/CXCL-3 in serum, as well as IL-6 in forelimb muscles and tendons, and IL-10 in serum. HRLF rats had elevated collagen deposition in the forepaw intrinsic muscles (i.e., fibrosis), entheseal microdamage, and articular cartilage degradation versus the control rats. CD68/ED1+ osteoclasts and single-nucleated cells were elevated in distal forelimb metaphyses of the HRLF animals, versus controls. Declines in grip strength correlated with muscle fibrosis, entheseal microdamage, articular cartilage damage, distal bone/enthesis IL1-α, and serum IL-6. These data demonstrate inflammatory and persistent degradative changes in the forearm/forepaw tissues of mature female animals exposed to prolonged repetitive tasks, changes with clinical relevance to work-related overuse injuries in mature human females. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fascial Anatomy and Histology: Advances in Molecular Biology)
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16 pages, 3667 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Sciatic Nerve Injury on Extracellular Matrix of Lower Limb Muscle and Thoracolumbar Fascia: An Observational Study
by Xiaoxiao Zhao, Caterina Fede, Lucia Petrelli, Carmelo Pirri, Elena Stocco, Chenglei Fan, Andrea Porzionato, Cesare Tiengo, Raffaele De Caro, Stefano Masiero and Carla Stecco
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(16), 8945; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168945 - 16 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1067
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a complex clinical challenge resulting in functional disability. Neurological recovery does not always ensure functional recovery, as extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations affect muscle function. This study evaluates hyaluronan (HA) and collagen concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle and thoracolumbar [...] Read more.
Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a complex clinical challenge resulting in functional disability. Neurological recovery does not always ensure functional recovery, as extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations affect muscle function. This study evaluates hyaluronan (HA) and collagen concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle and thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) in unilateral lower limb PNI rats to explore systemic ECM alterations following PNI and their impacts on functional recovery. Eighteen 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into experimental (n = 12 left sciatic nerve injury) and control (n = 6) groups. After six weeks, motor function was evaluated. Muscle and TLF samples were analysed for HA and collagen distribution and concentrations. SFI and gait analysis confirmed a functional deficit in PNI rats 6 weeks after surgery. HA concentration in both sides of the muscles decreased by approximately one-third; both sides showed significantly higher collagen concentration than healthy rats (12.74 ± 4.83 µg/g), with the left (32.92 ± 11.34 µg/g) significantly higher than the right (20.15 ± 7.03 µg/g). PNI rats also showed significantly lower HA (left: 66.95 ± 20.08 µg/g; right: 112.66 ± 30.53 µg/g) and higher collagen (left: 115.89 ± 28.18 µg/g; right: 90.43 ± 20.83 µg/g) concentrations in both TLF samples compared to healthy rats (HA: 167.18 ± 31.13 µg/g; collagen: 47.51 ± 7.82 µg/g), with the left TLF more affected. Unilateral lower limb PNI induced HA reduction and collagen accumulation in both the lower limb muscles and the TLF, potentially exacerbating motor function impairment and increasing the risk of low back dysfunctions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fascial Anatomy and Histology: Advances in Molecular Biology)
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Review

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13 pages, 1364 KiB  
Review
The Human Superficial Fascia: A Narrative Review
by Caterina Fede, Claudia Clair, Carmelo Pirri, Lucia Petrelli, Xiaoxiao Zhao, Yunfeng Sun, Veronica Macchi and Carla Stecco
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 1289; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031289 - 3 Feb 2025
Viewed by 201
Abstract
In recent years, the interest in the comprehension of the fasciae has significantly grown, together with the necessity of finding a consensus for a terminology of the fasciae in the research and clinical fields. Furthermore, it is becoming necessary to categorize the various [...] Read more.
In recent years, the interest in the comprehension of the fasciae has significantly grown, together with the necessity of finding a consensus for a terminology of the fasciae in the research and clinical fields. Furthermore, it is becoming necessary to categorize the various types of fascia (superficial, deep, visceral, neural) since they possess different anatomical characteristics, and are implicated in different pathophysiological pathways. While in the past we have described the deep/muscular fascia, the aim of this work is to summarize and catalog the information relating to the human superficial fascia (thickness, cellular end extracellular matrix component, innervation, vascularization). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fascial Anatomy and Histology: Advances in Molecular Biology)
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