What Are Three Subdivisions of Fascia?

Fascia is a connective tissue layer that supports and surrounds organs in the body; it is considered a constituent part of the anatomical category called tissues. For example, muscle is a constituent tissue, while fascia is only a constituent part of the muscle tissue. There are three subdivisions of fascia found in the human body: superficial, deep and subserous fascia.

Locations and Function

• Fascia membrane extends throughout the whole body. Muscular expansions keep the deep fascia layer in a state of tension. New findings show that during muscle contraction and subsequent expansion, such expansions may transmit the effect of the stretch to a specific area of the fascia, stimulating the nerve endings in that area. The hypothesis is that the fascia plays an important role in sensations involving changes in the musculature, especially dynamic changes. This data adds to the previously known function of segmentation and containment of muscle fibers.

  Other functions of all divisions of fascia include protection and padding of the many organs of the body as well as the body's cavities. Fascia also permits different layers of the body to move independently of one another.

Superficial Fascia

• Below the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin lies the subcutaneous layer. This layer of tissue and fat contains the fascia that separates the skin from underlying tissues and organs. It provides protective padding and has insulating properties. Superficial fascia is the body's means of separating adjacent structures within the body. Fascia tissue, located below the dermal layer of skin, permits the skin to move autonomously, free of the muscle or other tissues and organs beneath it.

Deep Fascia

• The particular arrangement of the fibers of deep fascia help this division of the fascia resist forces applied from many directions. Deep fascia is a denser connective tissue than the superficial fascia. This type of fascia encapsulates muscle fibers and divides muscles into sections, much like the segments of pith in a citrus fruit's interior. This property also helps minimize the effects of injuries to muscle fiber by keeping the muscle tissues' responses confined to the local area of injury. Occasionally, this same property causes compartmental syndrome; in this condition, the muscle injury produces an amount of inflammation and collected fluids that is too great in volume for the space it occupies, causing tissue death due to the impediment of circulation to the area.

Subserous Fascia

• Subserous fascia is the deepest layer of fascia; it contains blood vessels, nerves, lymphatic system vessels and loose connective tissue and lies between the deep fascia and the serous membranes which comprise the external linings of various internal organs. Serous fluid is the circulating fluid that carries blood components -- red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets -- among other substances. The subserous fascia lines body cavities which contain serous fluid. With the protection of subserous fascia, movements of skin, muscles and organs do not severely distort the delicate lining within body cavities.