A study of the human fascia lata and its relationships to the extensor mechanism of the knee

Abstract

General descriptions of the fascia lata as a structure could be found in all major anatomy textbooks. However, there is a paucity of information on the fascia lata and its surrounding structures in scientific literature. This study investigates how fascia and muscle relate in the extensor compartment of the thigh – i.e. as the muscle epimysium or as a separate fascial layer. Using detailed dissections of ten cadaver lower limbs and axial Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonography in four volunteers, findings were compared to correlate all observed features. Results highlighted anatomical aspects and relationships not previously documented. The fascia lata demonstrated a single, epimysial relationship to the tensor fascia lata, upper sartorius and parts of the vastus medialis muscles, while forming a separate fascial layer over the lower sartorius, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles. Findings suggest the fascia lata may function as more than containment of musculature and allude to functional implications for surgery and rehabilitation.