| Fascia lata | |
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| The fossa ovalis. (Fascia lata labeled at bottom left. ) | |
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| Iliotibial tract. | |
| Gray's | subject #128 468 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | f_03/12355200 |
The fascia lata is the deep fascia of the thigh. Elsevier, the world's largest Publisher of Medical and Scientific literature, forms part of the Reed Elsevier group Deep fascia (or "investing fascia" is a layer of Fascia which can surround individual muscles and divide groups of muscles into compartments In humans the thigh is the area between the Pelvis and the Knee.
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Thickness
It is an investment for the whole of the thigh, but varies in thickness in different parts.
Thus, it is thicker in the upper and lateral part of the thigh, where it receives a fibrous expansion from the Glutæus maximus, and where the Tensor fasciæ latæ is inserted between its layers; it is very thin behind and at the upper and medial part, where it covers the Adductor muscles, and again becomes stronger around the knee, receiving fibrous expansions from the tendon of the Biceps femoris laterally, from the Sartorius medially, and from the Quadriceps femoris in front. The gluteus maximus' (or glutæus maximus) is the largest and most Superficial of the three Gluteal muscles. The tensor fasciae latae or tensor fasciæ latæ is a Muscle of the Thigh. In Human anatomy, the adductor muscles of the hip is a group of Muscles of the hip. The biceps femoris is a muscle of the posterior (the back Thigh. "Quads" redirects here For other uses see Quad The quadriceps femoris ( Latin for "four-headed of the femur" also
Above and behind
The fascia lata is attached, above and behind, to the back of the sacrum and coccyx; laterally, to the iliac crest; in front, to the inguinal ligament, and to the superior ramus of the pubis; and medially, to the inferior ramus of the pubis, to the inferior ramus and tuberosity of the ischium, and to the lower border of the sacrotuberous ligament. The sacrum is a large triangular bone at the base of the spine and at the upper and back part of the Pelvic cavity, where it is inserted like a wedge between The coccyx (pronounced kok -siks (Latin os coccygis) commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the human vertebral column The crest of the ilium (or iliac crest) is the superior border of the Wing of ilium and the superolateral margin of the Greater pelvis. The inguinal (Poupart's ligament is a band running from the Pubic tubercle to the Anterior superior iliac spine. The superior pubic ramus extends from the body to the median plane where it articulates with its fellow of the opposite side For the bone in many mammals often called the penis bone see Baculum The android pubic bone is the Ventral and Anterior The inferior pubic ramus is thin and flattened It passes lateralward and downward from the medial end of the Superior ramus; it becomes narrower as it descends and joins with The ischium forms the lower and back part of the Hip bone ( os coxae) The sacrotuberous ligament ( great or posterior sacrosciatic ligament) is situated at the lower and back part of the Pelvis.
From its attachment to the iliac crest it passes down over the Glutæus medius to the upper border of the Glutæus maximus, where it splits into two layers, one passing superficial to and the other beneath this muscle; at the lower border of the muscle the two layers reunite. The gluteal muscles are the three muscles that make up the buttocks the Gluteus maximus, Gluteus medius and Gluteus minimus The gluteus maximus' (or glutæus maximus) is the largest and most Superficial of the three Gluteal muscles.
Laterally
Laterally, the fascia lata receives the greater part of the tendon of insertion of the Glutæus maximus, and becomes proportionately thickened.
The portion of the fascia lata attached to the front part of the iliac crest, and corresponding to the origin of the Tensor fasciæ latæ, extends down the lateral side of the thigh as two layers, one superficial to and the other beneath this muscle; at the lower end of the muscle these two layers unite and form a strong band, having first received the insertion of the muscle.
This band is continued downward, under the name of the iliotibial band (tractus iliotibialis) and is attached to the lateral condyle of the tibia. The iliotibial tract or iliotibial band (or Maissiat's band is a longitudinal fibrous reinforcement of the Fascia lata. The tibia, shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two Bones in the Leg below the Knee in vertebrates and connects
The part of the iliotibial band which lies beneath the Tensor fasciæ latæ is prolonged upward to join the lateral part of the capsule of the hip-joint. The tensor fasciae latae or tensor fasciæ latæ is a Muscle of the Thigh.
Below
Below, the fasciæ lata is attached to all the prominent points around the knee-joint, viz. The knee is the lower extremity Joint connecting the Femur, Patella, and the Tibia. , the condyles of the femur and tibia, and the head of the fibula. The upper extremity or head of the Fibula is of an irregular quadrate form presenting above a flattened articular surface directed upward forward and medialward for articulation
On either side of the patella it is strengthened by transverse fibers from the lower parts of the Vasti, which are attached to and support this bone. The patella or kneecap is a thick triangular Bone which articulates with the Femur and covers and protects the knee joint
Of these the lateral are the stronger, and are continuous with the iliotibial band.
The deep surface of the fascia lata gives off two strong intermuscular septa, which are attached to the whole length of the linea aspera and its prolongations above and below; the lateral and stronger one, which extends from the insertion of the Glutæus maximus to the lateral condyle, separates the Vastus lateralis in front from the short head of the Biceps femoris behind, and gives partial origin to these muscles; the medial and thinner one separates the Vastus medialis from the Adductores and Pectineus. The gluteus maximus' (or glutæus maximus) is the largest and most Superficial of the three Gluteal muscles. The Vastus lateralis (Vastus externus is the largest part of the Quadriceps femoris. The biceps femoris is a muscle of the posterior (the back Thigh. The vastus medialis, often called the 'teardrop' muscle is a Medially located Muscle of the Quadriceps. The pectineus muscle is a flat quadrangular Muscle, situated at the anterior part of the upper and medial aspect of the Thigh.
Besides these there are numerous smaller septa, separating the individual muscles, and enclosing each in a distinct sheath.
Crural fascia
The crural fascia is a continuation of the fascia lata[1]. The crural fascia ( Deep fascia of the leg) forms a complete investment to the muscles and is fused with the periosteum over the subcutaneous surfaces of the bones
Etymology
It is named from its great extent.
Additional images
 The superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery. |
 Femoral sheath laid open to show its three compartments. |
References
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone Henry Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body (or Gray's Anatomy as it has commonly been shortened is an English-language Human anatomy Textbook As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.