Gil Hedley’s scientific contributions

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Publications (5)


(A) Example of a fascia dissection based on medically “precise” terminology. This dissection image was used in an otherwise excellent treatise on the iliotibial tract (ITT). Following the proposal of Gray's Anatomy (Standring, 2008) to distinguish between aponeuroses and fasciae, the authors chose to describe this tissue as an aponeurosis and therefore excluded all tissue portions with a non‐aponeurotic character. Unfortunately, this included one of the sturdiest portions of this structure: the connection to the lateral iliac crest, posterior of the anterior superior iliac spine. Notice the common thickening of the iliac crest at the former attachment of this ligamentous portion (located at a straight force transmission line from the knee over the greater trochanter), reflecting the very strong pull of this “ligamentous portion” of the ITT on the pelvis. TFL, tensor fasciae latae. (B) Dissection of the same structure based on the functional term “the fascial system.” The strong densification of the “ligamentous portion” of the ITT on this preparation can be easily recognized, indicated by the arrowhead. In addition, note the continuous transitions on the ITT between regions with a unidirectional and others with a multidirectional fiber orientation. The specimen is one of the first samples of the Fascial Net Plastination Projection of the Fascia Research Society, in which a three‐dimensional plastinated demonstration of “the fascial net” of the human body is attempted. (A) Illustration taken with permission from Benjamin et al. (2008). (B) Illustration ©FasciaResearchSociety.org/plastination, with support from Gubener Plastinate GmbH. [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
The nomenclature recommendations of the FNC are based on the understanding that the wider and more functional term “the fascial net” (which some authors replace by “fascial tissues”) describes a subset of tissues belonging to the connective tissue system of the body. Similarly, the term “a fascia” (also called “proper fascia” by some authors) describes a subset of tissues within the larger category of “the fascial system.”
Fascial nomenclature: Update on related consensus process
  • Article
  • Full-text available

June 2019

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1,372 Reads

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50 Citations

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Gil Hedley

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The term fascia is increasingly used not only by anatomists but also by other professionals and authors in different health‐oriented fields. This goes along with an inconsistent usage of the term, in which many different tissues are included by different authors causing an increasing amount of confusion. The Fascia Research Society acted to address this issue by establishing a Fascia Nomenclature Committee (FNC) with the purpose of clarifying the terminology relating to fascia. This committee conducted an elaborate Delphi process to foster a structured consensus debate among different experts in the field. This process led to two distinct terminology recommendations from the FNC, defining the terms “a fascia” and “the fascial system.” This article reports on the process behind this proposed terminology as well as the implications for inclusion and exclusion of different tissue types to these definitions. Clin. Anat. 32:929–933, 2019. © 2019 The Authors. Clinical Anatomy published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Clinical Anatomists.

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Defining the fascial system

November 2016

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10,380 Reads

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187 Citations

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies

Fascia is a widely used yet indistinctly defined anatomical term that is concurrently applied to the description of soft collagenous connective tissue, distinct sections of membranous tissue, and a body pervading soft connective tissue system. Inconsistent use of this term is causing concern due to its potential to confuse technical communication about fascia in global, multiple discipline- and multiple profession-spanning discourse environments. The Fascia Research Society acted to address this issue by establishing a Fascia Nomenclature Committee (FNC) whose purpose was to clarify the terminology relating to fascia. This committee has since developed and defined the terms a fascia, and, more recently, the fascial system. This article reports on the FNC's proposed definition of the fascial system.


Citations (5)


... Whereas the fascial system was not considered by clinicians a few decades ago (Benjamin, 2009;Fede et al., 2018;Stecco et al., 2008Stecco et al., , 2011, healthcare givers now recognise the importance of fascial tissues as a system connecting the skin, the superficial and deep fasciae, and the underlying muscles (Benjamin, 2009;Schleip et al., 2019;Stecco et al., 2011). ...

Reference:

2D and 3D microstructural analysis of the iliotibial tract
Fascial nomenclature: Update on related consensus process

... Routinely dismissed as a packing tissue of little consequence [51][52][53], the fascial tissues are now recognized for their involvement in structural stability and motion control [24,[52][53][54]. The term fascia, however, has a long and varied history that continues to evolve [55] with Adstrum et al. (2017) [56] raising concerns over the coexistence of several differing meanings and proposing a comprehensive definition of the fascial system that could drive further research [57]. "The fascial system consists of the three-dimensional continuum of soft, collagen containing, loose and dense fibrous connective tissues that permeate the body. ...

Update on fascial nomenclature
  • Citing Article
  • February 2019

... Adipose tissue, adventitia and neurovascular sheaths, aponeuroses, deep and super icial fascia, epineurium, joint capsules, ligaments, membranes, meninges, myofascial expansions, periosteum, retinacula, septa, tendons, visceral fasciae, and all intramuscular and intermuscular connective tissues, including endo-/peri-/ epimysium are all included. The fascial system surrounds, interweaves through, and interpenetrates all organs, muscles, bones, and nerve ibres, giving the body a functional framework and creating an environment in which all bodily systems may work together [10]. ...

Regarding: Update on fascial nomenclature - An additional proposal by John Sharkey MSc, Clinical Anatomist

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies

... This conceptual gap has been at least partly filled by new principles and concepts, such as the hydraulic principle (e.g., Gutmann, 1977Gutmann, , 1985Gutmann, , 1988Gutmann, , 1989, the constructional principle of soft and hard skeletal systems as an early conceptualization of tensegrity (Gutmann, 1988(Gutmann, , 1989(Gutmann, , 1991Vogel & Gutmann, 1981), expanded biomechanical concepts (Vogel, 2013), the concept of tensegrity (Bordoni & Myers, 2020;Chen & Ingber, 1999;Levin, 1995Levin, , 2006Scarr, 2014), and the concept of a pervasive fascial system (Adstrum et al., 2017;Bordoni & Lagana, 2019;Bordoni & Myers, 2020;Guimberteau & Armstrong, 2015;Stecco, 2016). Despite their significant heuristic value for the description and functional interpretation of complex morphological entities, these concepts and principles have only begun to be applied to descriptive morphology, but see, for example, Haidarliu et al. (2024);Homberger (1986Homberger ( , 2003Homberger ( , 2017a; Homberger & de Silva (2000; Homberger & Meyers (1989); Kier & Smith (1985); Maina (2017); Meyers et al. (1986);Wood et al. (2018). ...

Defining the fascial system

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies

... But it was not until Vesalius that the term was connected with a structure close to muscle tissue (1). Although nowadays there are still discrepancies regarding its definition (2,3), the term fascia can be defined as a "viscoelastic, functional, and three-dimensional network of connective tissue, made up basically of collagen fibres (4,5), which surrounds and interpenetrates all the structures of the human body in all directions, and which is difficult to isolate as a whole" (6). ...

Fascial nomenclature
  • Citing Article
  • October 2015

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies