A comparative multi‐site and whole‐body assessment of fascia in the horse and dog: a detailed histological investigation

Abstract

Fascia in the veterinary sciences is drawing attention, such that physiotherapists and animal practitioners are now applying techniques based on the concept of fascia studies in humans. A comprehensive study of fascia is therefore needed in animals to understand the arrangement of the fascial layers in an unguligrade horse and a digitigrade dog. This study has examined the difference between the horse and the dog fascia at specific regions, in terms of histology, and has compared it with the human model. Histological examinations show that in general the fascia tissue of the horse exhibits a tight and dense composition, while in the dog it is looser and has non-dense structure. Indeed, equine fascia appears to be different from both canine fascia and the human fascia model, whilst canine fascia is very comparable to the human model. Although regional variations were observed, the superficial fascia (fascia superficialis) in the horse was found to be trilaminar in the trunk, yet multilayered in the dog. Moreover, crimping of collagen fibers was more visible in the horse than the dog. Blood vessels and nerves were present in the loose areolar tissue of the superficial and the profound compartment of hypodermis. The deep fascia (fascia profunda) in the horse was thick and tightly attached to the underlying muscle, while in the dog the deep fascia was thin and loosely attached to underlying structures. Superficial and deep fascia fused in the extremities. In conclusion, gross dissection and histology have revealed species variations that are related to the absence or presence of the superficial adipose tissue, the retinacula cutis superficialis, the localization and amount of elastic fibers, as well as the ability to slide and glide between the different layers. Further research is now needed to understand in more detail whether these differences have an influence on the biomechanics, movements and proprioception of these animals.

International Guidelines for Veterinary Tumor Pathology: A Call to Action

“…Fascia is an anatomical structure described in anatomy and histology texts. There are recent reviews describing fascia for the dog and horse 4 and surgically identifiable fascial planes for the dog. 101 The thickness and tensile strength of fascia is markedly variable in different anatomical locations.…”

Equine Cervical Pain and Dysfunction: Pathology, Diagnosis and Treatment

“…The deep fascia can undergo densification and fibrosis which changes the ability of the tissues to glide and alters the nerve fiber function, leading to an increased pain state [48]. The fascia specific to the horse has recently been evaluated and found to be quite compact and tightly connected, likely related to the need for an energy-efficient system [49]. In horses with cervical pain and dysfunction, compensatory nociceptive and biomechanical mechanisms likely contribute to densification of the fascial tissues and the development or chronic recurrence of pain.…”

Faszination Faszie – Die Fascia thoracolumbalis bei Hunden mit Diskushernie

“…Sie ist fest und kräftig und unter anderem für die Lastübertragung vom Rumpf auf die Extremitäten verantwortlich. Die Rückenund Bauchmuskulatur wird so mit der Wirbelsäule, den Extremitäten und dem Schädel verbunden [7].…”

“…Diese reagieren auf Zug, Druck oder Stress mit einer strukturellen Veränderung: Die Fasern der Faszien werden neu ausgerichtet und organisiert, sie werden dicker oder dünner. Bereits Ahmed, der Hyaluronan (früher Hyaluronsäure, ein Glykosaminoglykan (GAG) der amorphen Substanz) zwischen den Faszienschichten gefunden hatte, bezeichnete die hohe Flexibilität der Faszien beim Hund als essenziell [7]. Das Vorhandensein und die Fähigkeit der Fibrillenbündel zur gegenseitigen Brückenbildung sowie zur Bindung von Wasseranteilen ist bestimmend für die Elastizität und Plastizität des Bindegewebes [10].…”