What Is the Thoracolumbar Fascia?

Also known as lumbar back fascia is the inherent fascia of the lower back, divided into two layers of depth, which together form the muscle fiber sheath of the sacrospinalis muscle, which surrounds the sacrospinalis muscle and the deep short back muscles. The fascia is thin and transparent on the back of the chest. The waist and back are thickened, especially developed, tendon-like, white and shiny.

Also known as lumbar back fascia is the inherent fascia of the lower back, divided into two layers of depth, which together form the muscle fiber sheath of the sacrospinalis muscle, which surrounds the sacrospinalis muscle and the deep short back muscles. The fascia is thin and transparent on the back of the chest. The waist and back are thickened, especially developed, tendon-like, white and shiny.

Chinese name

Thoracolumbar fascia

Foreign name

Thoracolumbar fascia

Location

Covering the erector spinae

Features

Continue the upward fascia

Thoracolumbar Fascia Overview

The superficial layer covers the deep side of the trapezius, latissimus dorsi and inferior posterior serratus, covering the iliac spine and deep short dorsum. Move up on the fascia. Attached to the iliac crest and the lateral iliac crest. Inwardly attached to the spinous process of the thoracic spine, lumbar spine, superior spinal ligament, and midcondyle. It is attached to the ribs, ribs, and intercostal fascia outwards on the chest and back, and continues to the aponeurosis starting from the transverse abdominal muscles at the waist, and deep heals the thoracolumbar fascia (lumbar fascia) on the outside of the sacrospinalis muscle.

The deep layer is located on the deep side of the iliac spine muscle, attaching upward to the lower edge of the 12th costal rib, attaching downward to the iliac crest, attaching to the lumbar transverse process inward, healing outward with the superficial layer of the thoracolumbar fascia, constituting the abdominal muscles The initial fascia, this layer of fascia, is particularly thickened between the 12th rib and the 1st lumbar vertebra process, called the lumbar costal lig.

Thoracolumbar fascia local anatomy

The thoracolumbar fascia can be divided into three layers:

Superficial layer: The thickest layer is located on the deep side of the latissimus dorsi and inferior posterior muscles, the surface of the erector spinae. There is a gap between the superficial layer of thoracolumbar fascia and the erector spinae, which is called the thoracolumbar fascia space, which contains the cutaneous nerve, fat, and loose connective tissue. Normally, the superficial layer of thoracolumbar fascia restricts the erector spinae and enhances the force of the erector spinae, while the loose connective tissue under the thoracolumbar fascia acts as a lubricant between the thoracolumbar fascia and the erector spinae. This layer of fascia is also a common site for taking fascia sheets. The thoracolumbar fascia is located between the erector spinae muscle and the psoas muscle, starting from the 12th rib upward, stopping at the chin downward, and attaching to the transverse process on the medial side, healing the superficial phase of the lateral edge of the erector spinae-b, and Becomes the aponeurosis of the abdominal muscles.

The structures of the thoracolumbar fascia, the superficial layer, the middle layer, and the spinous processes and transverse processes of the lumbar spine constitute the lumbosacral osteofascial compartment, which contains the erector spinae, transverse spinous muscle groups, and posterior medial and lateral branches of the lumbar nerve. The presence of blood vessels and this osteofascial compartment may be one of the anatomical foundations that cause low back pain.

The thoracolumbar fascia is located deep in front of the psoas muscle. The psoas muscle fascia and the sacroiliac fascia form the sacroiliac fascia, which covers the psoas muscle and the sacroiliac muscle, and continues down to the femoral trochanter. Therefore, the psoas muscle abscess can follow this fascia down to the inside of the femur. Due to inflammation, this fascia thickens and the abscess is confined within this space, sometimes up to several thousand milliliters. The lumbo-fascial fascia is also an important anatomical basis for the iliopsoas muscle fascia compartment syndrome, which plays an important role in the acute injury of the psoas muscle.

The thoracolumbar fascia is significantly thickened in the lumbar region and can be divided into shallow, medium and deep layers. The superficial layer is the thickest and is located on the surface of the erector spinae, fused with the initial aponeurosis of the latissimus dorsi and inferior posterior serratus, and attaches downward to the iliac crest and lateral iliac crest. The outer side heals with the middle layer of the erector spinae muscle to form the erector spinae muscle sheath; the middle layer is located between the erector spinae and the psoas muscle, and the inner side is attached to the lumbar transverse process tip and intertransverse ligament. The deep layer heals to form the lumbar square muscle sheath; the deep layer is thinner and is located in front of the lumbar square muscle, also known as the lumbar square muscle fascia. The three layers of fascia meet at the medial edge of the psoas muscle and become the starting point of the internal abdominal oblique and transverse abdominal muscles. Due to the high degree of waist movement, the thoracolumbar fascia is often prone to sprain during strenuous exercise, which is one of the causes of low back pain.