The superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face: A model explored

Regional differences in the integument of the body are explained, at least in part, by differences in fascial arrangements. In the face, where the skin is more mobile due to the action of the underlying facial muscles, fascial organisation is important for support and separation of muscle groups. Th...

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Main Authors: Broughton, Michelle, Fyfe, Georgina
Format: Journal Article
Published: Hindawi Publishing Corporation 2013
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/19033
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author Broughton, Michelle
Fyfe, Georgina
author_facet Broughton, Michelle
Fyfe, Georgina
author_sort Broughton, Michelle
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Regional differences in the integument of the body are explained, at least in part, by differences in fascial arrangements. In the face, where the skin is more mobile due to the action of the underlying facial muscles, fascial organisation is important for support and separation of muscle groups. This study used bequeathed cadaver material to investigate a current model of the SMAS proposed by Macchi et al., the original boundaries of which were explored and extended using both histology and gross dissection. As a clearly identifiable structure spanning the lateral and midface, the SMAS in the specimen supported the model proposed by Macchi et al. The three main findings that support the model were the layered morphological appearance of the SMAS, its progression from fibrous to aponeurotic in a lateral to medial direction, and the enveloping of the zygomaticus musculature. Extension beyond the proposed model into the temporal region was observed, but nasal and forehead regions showed no evidence of SMAS, while its presence in the cervical platysma region remained inconclusive. Fascial and soft tissue variability was considerable within facial regions of the examined specimen, helping to explain the debate around the SMAS in the literature.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-190332017-09-13T13:45:15Z The superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face: A model explored Broughton, Michelle Fyfe, Georgina Regional differences in the integument of the body are explained, at least in part, by differences in fascial arrangements. In the face, where the skin is more mobile due to the action of the underlying facial muscles, fascial organisation is important for support and separation of muscle groups. This study used bequeathed cadaver material to investigate a current model of the SMAS proposed by Macchi et al., the original boundaries of which were explored and extended using both histology and gross dissection. As a clearly identifiable structure spanning the lateral and midface, the SMAS in the specimen supported the model proposed by Macchi et al. The three main findings that support the model were the layered morphological appearance of the SMAS, its progression from fibrous to aponeurotic in a lateral to medial direction, and the enveloping of the zygomaticus musculature. Extension beyond the proposed model into the temporal region was observed, but nasal and forehead regions showed no evidence of SMAS, while its presence in the cervical platysma region remained inconclusive. Fascial and soft tissue variability was considerable within facial regions of the examined specimen, helping to explain the debate around the SMAS in the literature. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/19033 10.1155/2013/794682 Hindawi Publishing Corporation fulltext
spellingShingle Broughton, Michelle
Fyfe, Georgina
The superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face: A model explored
title The superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face: A model explored
title_full The superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face: A model explored
title_fullStr The superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face: A model explored
title_full_unstemmed The superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face: A model explored
title_short The superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face: A model explored
title_sort superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face: a model explored
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/19033