Fascia: according to Tom Myers
Fascia as the Meta-Membrane
From a broader perspective, the human body can be viewed as a community of approximately 70 trillion cells. To maintain cohesion and organization within this vast cellular community, the body requires a robust and versatile structure. This is where fascia, or connective tissues, play a critical role in holding the body together.
All the connective tissues involve varying concentrations of cells, fibres, and interfibrillar ground substance (proteoaminoglycans).
Fibroblasts, a specific class of cells, are particularly adept at producing the components needed to create the fascial context. They achieve this by weaving the cells together or by producing a glue-like substance that binds them. As a result, fascia employs both fabric and glue to provide a supportive environment for other cells.
An essential concept to understand about fascia is its role as a meta-membrane. While each cell has a membrane that delineates its boundaries, fascia serves as a larger, overarching membrane that defines the body’s overall structure and boundaries. This notion of fascia as a meta-membrane highlights its importance in maintaining the body’s shape and integrity.
Fibers and glue in between the cells of the fascia
Although the skin may be seen as the body’s primary boundary, it only serves as a barrier between the body and the external environment. The fascia, on the other hand, is responsible for maintaining the body’s internal shape and structure. Long-held patterns, both physical and emotional, are ingrained in the fascia, influencing the body’s overall form.
In conclusion, fascia plays a vital role as the body’s meta-membrane, providing support and structure to the body’s cellular community. This connective tissue is essential in maintaining the integrity of the body’s shape and overall well-being.
How Fascia Develops
It is crucial to comprehend how fascia forms and recognize that the human body is not constructed in separate parts like a machine. Often, we tend to use mechanical, industrial-like imagery to describe the body, which can be misleading. In reality, the human body develops from a fertilized ovum, which initially duplicates into stem cells before differentiating into specialized cells.
We grow from a seed – The fertilized egg(ovum), or zygote
Throughout this process, various types of cells become highly specialized in specific functions. Nerve cells excel at conduction, muscle cells are adept at contraction, and epithelial cells are proficient in absorption and secretion. These cells must maintain a relationship with one another to function properly. For instance, the nervous system requires fascial support due to its jelly-like consistency, and epithelial cells often rest on fascial sheets known as basal lamina.
The connective tissue cell is the cell from which all of your fascia is derived
The proper functioning of fascia in the body relies on its ability to move without getting locked up. It is important to note that fascia’s arrangement is not always in the same direction as the muscles, which allows for contraction and stretching. Issues may arise when fascia becomes stuck in contracted or stretched positions, or when it is not subjected to any load, causing it to lose its organized structure.
Connective tissue cells, including fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and chondroblasts, create the fascia, bone, and cartilage, respectively.
Additionally, immune cells, while not fitting the strict definition of fascia, are derived from the same connective tissue system. Other specialized tissues, such as the cornea of the eye and dentin in the teeth, also originate from this system.
The cornea in your eye and the dentin in your teeth are specialized tissues
The fibroblasts and their related cells produce a fibrous web that envelops and supports the entire body. This network is simultaneously sturdy and pliable, providing the necessary balance between structural integrity and movement. While plants utilize cellulose for support, humans rely on collagen to create this essential framework.
It is the fibroblasts and their cousins that create this sculptural medium
In summary, understanding how fascia develops from the fertilized ovum and the various specialized cells involved in its formation is essential to appreciating its role in supporting the human body’s structure and function. The resulting fibrous web provides a stable yet flexible environment, allowing for both resistance to gravity and freedom of movement.
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Removing Pain from the Human body by Adaptively Reconfiguring the Connective Tissue Support System…
View Fascia – A Deeper Dive – Part 1 of 8 Here:
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