Structure
The iliac fascia covers the iliacus muscle. It forms the epimysium of the iliac muscle. The epimysium is a well-defined layer of dense irregular connective tissue, which completely envelopes the muscle belly. It consists primarily of type I collagen fibers, which are tightly arranged to form a relatively strong fibrous covering of the muscle (Standring, 2016). Blood vessels travel through this collagenous sheath around the whole skeletal muscle, providing the skeletal muscle with blood supply. Nerves travel through the epimysium around the muscle, thus, innervating it.
Related parts of the anatomy
Anatomical Relations
The iliac fascia attaches to the whole length of the inner lip of the iliac crest along the margin of the iliacus muscle, superiorly and laterally. Medially, it is attached to the periosteum of the pelvis. Posteromedially, it merges with the anterior lamina of the thoracolumbar fascia which covers the quadratus lumborum. Distally, the iliac fascia merges with the psoas fascia to form the iliopsoas fascia, which continues into the pelvis and thigh to merge with the fascia lata.
Function
Iliac fascia covers and protects the underlying iliac muscle. The Femoral sheath is formed by an inferior prolongation of the iliopsoas and transversalis fascia superiorly. The iliopectineal ligament, a deep thickened band of the Iliopsoas fascia divides the retroinguinal space is divided into the muscular and vascular compartments.
List of Clinical Correlates
—Fascial release technique for the entrapment of the genitofemoral nerve
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
