Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (597 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Layers of connective tissue of variable thickness. The superficial fascia is found immediately below the skin; the deep fascia invests muscles, nerves, and other organs.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Musculoskeletal System; Connective Tissue
- Narrower topics
- Fascia Lata; Tenon Capsule
- See also
- Fasciotomy
Related concepts
- Muscles
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 10,242 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Fascia” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 1,905 of them (18.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 3,966 records.
Reviews account for 755 records (7.4%) and meta-analyses for 70. Randomized controlled trials number 321 (3.1%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 3,966 |
| 2000-2009 | 1,693 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,678 |
| 2020 onward | 1,905 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 755 | 7.4% |
| Meta-analyses | 70 | 0.7% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 321 | 3.1% |
Method: PubMed query "Fascia"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure and Distribution of an Unrecognized Interstitium in Human Tissues | 2018 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 228 | cc by PMID 29588511 · DOI · PMC5869738 |
| Force transmission between synergistic skeletal muscles through connective tissue linkages | 2010 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 126 | cc by PMID 20396618 · DOI · PMC2853902 |
| CD201+ fascia progenitors choreograph injury repair | 2023 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 101 | cc by PMID 37968392 · DOI · PMC10665192 |
| The Human Superficial Fascia: A Narrative Review | 2025 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 23 | cc by PMID 39941057 · DOI · PMC11818326 |
Structure and Distribution of an Unrecognized Interstitium in Human Tissues [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) provides real-time histologic imaging of human tissues at a depth of 60-70 μm during endoscopy.
- Closing excerpt
- In sum, we describe the anatomy and histology of a previously unrecognized, though widespread, macroscopic, fluid-filled space within and between tissues, a novel expansion and specification of the concept of the human interstitium.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (210 words)
Confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) provides real-time histologic imaging of human tissues at a depth of 60-70 μm during endoscopy. pCLE of the extrahepatic bile duct after fluorescein injection demonstrated a reticular pattern within fluorescein-filled sinuses that had no known anatomical correlate. Freezing biopsy tissue before fixation preserved the anatomy of this structure, demonstrating that it is part of the submucosa and a previously unappreciated fluid-filled interstitial space, draining to lymph nodes and supported by a complex network of thick collagen bundles. These bundles are intermittently lined on one side by fibroblast-like cells that stain with endothelial markers and vimentin, although there is a highly unusual and extensive unlined interface between the matrix proteins of the bundles and the surrounding fluid. We observed similar structures in numerous tissues that are subject to intermittent or rhythmic compression, including the submucosae of the entire gastrointestinal tract and urinary bladder, the dermis, the peri-bronchial and peri-arterial soft tissues, and fascia. These anatomic structures may be important in cancer metastasis, edema, fibrosis, and mechanical functioning of many or all tissues and organs. In sum, we describe the anatomy and histology of a previously unrecognized, though widespread, macroscopic, fluid-filled space within and between tissues, a novel expansion and specification of the concept of the human interstitium.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 29588511 · DOI · PMC5869738
Force transmission between synergistic skeletal muscles through connective tissue linkages [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The classic view of skeletal muscle is that force is generated within its muscle fibers and then directly transmitted in-series, usually via tendon, onto the skeleton.
- Closing excerpt
- Future studies are needed to investigate the importance of intermuscular force transmission during movement in health and disease.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (150 words)
The classic view of skeletal muscle is that force is generated within its muscle fibers and then directly transmitted in-series, usually via tendon, onto the skeleton. In contrast, recent results suggest that muscles are mechanically connected to surrounding structures and cannot be considered as independent actuators. This article will review experiments on mechanical interactions between muscles mediated by such epimuscular myofascial force transmission in physiological and pathological muscle conditions. In a reduced preparation, involving supraphysiological muscle conditions, it is shown that connective tissues surrounding muscles are capable of transmitting substantial force. In more physiologically relevant conditions of intact muscles, however, it appears that the role of this myofascial pathway is small. In addition, it is hypothesized that connective tissues can serve as a safety net for traumatic events in muscle or tendon. Future studies are needed to investigate the importance of intermuscular force transmission during movement in health and disease.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 20396618 · DOI · PMC2853902
CD201+ fascia progenitors choreograph injury repair [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Optimal tissue recovery and organismal survival are achieved by spatiotemporal tuning of tissue inflammation, contraction and scar formation1.
- Closing excerpt
- The discovery of proinflammatory and myofibroblast progenitors and their differentiation pathways provide a new roadmap to understand and clinically treat impaired wound healing.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (138 words)
Optimal tissue recovery and organismal survival are achieved by spatiotemporal tuning of tissue inflammation, contraction and scar formation1. Here we identify a multipotent fibroblast progenitor marked by CD201 expression in the fascia, the deepest connective tissue layer of the skin. Using skin injury models in mice, single-cell transcriptomics and genetic lineage tracing, ablation and gene deletion models, we demonstrate that CD201+ progenitors control the pace of wound healing by generating multiple specialized cell types, from proinflammatory fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, in a spatiotemporally tuned sequence. We identified retinoic acid and hypoxia signalling as the entry checkpoints into proinflammatory and myofibroblast states. Modulating CD201+ progenitor differentiation impaired the spatiotemporal appearances of fibroblasts and chronically delayed wound healing. The discovery of proinflammatory and myofibroblast progenitors and their differentiation pathways provide a new roadmap to understand and clinically treat impaired wound healing.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 37968392 · DOI · PMC10665192
The Human Superficial Fascia: A Narrative Review [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- 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.
- Closing excerpt
- 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).
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (99 words)
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).
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 39941057 · DOI · PMC11818326
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article The thoracolumbar fascia: anatomy, function and clinical considerations [5]
- Research article The pathomechanics of plantar fasciitis [6]
- Research article Uncovering the biochemical milieu of myofascial trigger points using in vivo microdialysis: an application of muscle pain concepts to myofascial pain syndrome [7]
- Research article What Is Evidence-Based About Myofascial Chains: A Systematic Review [8]
- Research article The fascia of the limbs and back--a review [9]
- Research article Fascial tissue research in sports medicine: from molecules to tissue adaptation, injury and diagnostics: consensus statement [10]
References
- Benias PC, Wells RG, Sackey-Aboagye B, Klavan H, Reidy J, Buonocore D, et al.. Structure and Distribution of an Unrecognized Interstitium in Human Tissues. . 2018. PMID 29588511 · DOI · PMC5869738
- Maas H, Sandercock TG. Force transmission between synergistic skeletal muscles through connective tissue linkages. . 2010. PMID 20396618 · DOI · PMC2853902
- Correa-Gallegos D, Ye H, Dasgupta B, Sardogan A, Kadri S, Kandi R, et al.. CD201+ fascia progenitors choreograph injury repair. . 2023. PMID 37968392 · DOI · PMC10665192
- Fede C, Clair C, Pirri C, Petrelli L, Zhao X, Sun Y, et al.. The Human Superficial Fascia: A Narrative Review. . 2025. PMID 39941057 · DOI · PMC11818326
- Willard FH, Vleeming A, Schuenke MD, Danneels L, Schleip R. The thoracolumbar fascia: anatomy, function and clinical considerations. J Anat. 2012. PMID 22630613 · DOI
- Wearing SC, Smeathers JE, Urry SR, Hennig EM, Hills AP. The pathomechanics of plantar fasciitis. Sports Med. 2006. PMID 16796396 · DOI
- Shah JP, Gilliams EA. Uncovering the biochemical milieu of myofascial trigger points using in vivo microdialysis: an application of muscle pain concepts to myofascial pain syndrome. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2008. PMID 19083696 · DOI
- Wilke J, Krause F, Vogt L, Banzer W. What Is Evidence-Based About Myofascial Chains: A Systematic Review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016. PMID 26281953 · DOI
- Benjamin M. The fascia of the limbs and back--a review. J Anat. 2009. PMID 19166469 · DOI
- Zügel M, Maganaris CN, Wilke J, Jurkat-Rott K, Klingler W, Wearing SC, et al.. Fascial tissue research in sports medicine: from molecules to tissue adaptation, injury and diagnostics: consensus statement. Br J Sports Med. 2018. PMID 30072398 · DOI · PMC6241620
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.