FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ANATOMY. 23 



1. The superficial fascia, found under the skin in every region of the body. 

 This is also called in histology the areolar form of connective tissue. 



2. The deep fascia or fascia profunda has the following characters : 



(1) It is dense, heavy, and strong in some places ; weak in other places. 



(2) It is attached to bone in subcutaneous areas. 



(3) It has perforations for cutaneous vessels and nerves. 



(4) It is attached to all eminences of bone in the vicinity of joints. 



(5) It is a dense form of connective tissue. 



(6) It receives many different names in different localities. 



You will study the following description, and, if necessary, refer to it frequently 

 in your dissections. 



SPECIAL NAMES AND SPECIAL FUNCTIONS OF FASCIA PROFUNDA. (i) In the 

 upper extremity ; (2) in the lower extremity ; (3) in association with muscles; (4) 

 in surgical areas ; (5) forming intermnscular septa. 



In the tipper extremity the deep fascia occurs as : 



1. Anterior annular ligament lies in front of the carpus. Under this pass the 

 median nerve, flexor sublimis digitorum, flexor profundus digitorum, flexor longus 

 hallucis. This is ^ of an inch thick, extending from the os trapezium on thumb 

 side to the pisiform bone and unciform process of the unciform bone on ulnar 

 side. It is continuous below with the palmar fascia, and above with the deep 

 fascia covering the muscles. Its function is to bind down the structure under it. 



2. Posterior annular ligament is behind the carpus. Under it pass the three 

 extensors of the thumb, the three carpal extensors, the extensor indicis, the 

 extensor minimi digiti, the extensor communis digitorum. It is continuous 

 above with the deep fascia covering the muscles, below with the fascia of the 

 back of the hand. It has seven synovial compartments. 



3. Palmar fascia has an outer part, the thenar, covering the thenar eminence ; 

 an inner part, covering the hypothenar eminence ; a middle part, covering the 

 great distributing area to the fingers ; a neuro-vasal area, in which are the median 

 nerve, the ulnar nerve, and the superficial palmar arch. It is continuous above 

 with the annular ligament, below with the ligamenta vaginales ; laterally, with 

 the fascia dorsalis. 



4. Dorsal fascia is on the dorsum of the hand. It binds the tendons down 

 and holds them together. It is continuous above with the annular ligament ; 

 below, with the extensor tendons. It is called fascia dorsalis manus, in contra- 

 distinction to the fascia dorsalis pedis. 



Ligamenta vaginales form dense sheaths for the flexor tendons of the fingers. 

 They are lined with synovial membrane called theca. The thecae terminate in 

 thecal culs-de-sac for all the fingers between the thumb and little finger op- 

 posite the metatarso-phalangeal articulation. The thecae for the little finger 

 and thumb terminate above in the general synovial sac under the anterior annular 

 ligament. Very often the thecse for the little finger and thumb terminate as do 

 the other three digits. 



SPECIAL NAMES AND SPECIAL FUNCTIONS FOR THE DEEP FASCIA OF THE 

 LOWER EXTREMITY : 



Fascia lata, the deep fascia on the front of the thigh. It has an iliac and 

 a pubic part, separated by the saphenous opening. It is continuous above with 

 Poupart's ligament ; below, with eminences about the knee. It is very dense 

 and strong. 



Ilio-tilnal band is in reality the aponeurotic insertion of the tensor vaginae 

 femoris muscle. The fascia or band is inserted into the eminences about the 

 outer part of knee. 



Anterior annular ligament extends from malleolus to malleolus. Under it are 

 found the tibialis anticus, the extensor proprius hallucis, the extensor longus digi- 



