TENSOR FASCIA LATA: ORIGIN, IRRIGATION AND INNERVATION, FUNCTIONS - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY - 2025

The tensor fascia lata is a long, fusiform muscle of the leg, located in a lateral and external position. It is anchored to the pelvis and reaches the femur and its length varies depending on the person. Its main function is to open the leg outwards and rotate it.

The tensor fascia lata has multiple functions when working, along with other muscles. For example, in ambulation, it helps numerous muscles of the gluteus and leg to maintain the stability of the body. And all this despite its small size.

From Jmarchn - Own work, based on: Gray430.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, Its innervation and blood supply are closely related to those of the gluteal muscles. The tensor fascia lata is also a muscle that is particularly important in the trauma area when identifying anatomical structures during surgery.

Origin and insertion

The tensor fascia lata is a muscle that belongs to the gluteal muscle group. Both in its origin and its function, it is related to the gluteus maximus muscle.

The muscle begins in the anterior portion of the pelvis, in the so-called iliac crest, which is the anterior part of the wing of the pelvis. It is embedded in a thick band of connective tissue called the fascia lata or the ilio-tibial band.

The fascia lata is a fibrous tissue structure that surrounds the tensor fascia lata. Upon reaching the femur, the muscle joins this band in a tendon bundle that ends at the tibia.

By Jmarchn - Own work based on: Gray430.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, Thus, the tensor fascia lata presents a downward trajectory through the external part of the leg and ends at the femur, where it joins the fascia lata, until it reaches the tibia, which is its final insertion.

Irrigation and innervation

The tensor fascia lata is grouped between the gluteal muscles. This is because its function, its origin, its irrigation and its innervation are closely related to those of these muscles.

Irrigation

The irrigation includes the blood nutrition of the organs. In the case of the tensor fascia lata, its main blood supply comes from part of the superior gluteal artery. This is a thick artery that arises from the posterior division of an important blood vessel in the lower limbs, which is the internal iliac artery.

The gluteus superior is also responsible for providing blood supply to the gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscles.

Innervation

When we speak of innervation, we refer to the distribution of the nerve roots in the different organs of the body for their functioning.

The tensor fascia lata receives innervation from the gluteus maximus nerve that is formed from the thick lumbar and sacral nerve roots, L4-L5-S1.

This nerve supplies innervation to the gluteal major and minor muscles, as well as the tensor fascia latae.

F

The main function of the tensor fascia lata is, as its name implies, to maintain the tension of the fascia lata or ilio-tibial tract. Through this function, it achieves the stability of the body especially when there is flexion of the back.

Another function of this muscle is to work together with the gluteus minimus and gluteus medius in the rotation of the femur and move the hip away from the body (abduction).

The tensor fasciae lata also acts as a secondary muscle in flexion of the leg, when there is already some degree of flexion. Its capacity for this function increases when the flexion is greater than 30 °.

In addition to this active functional aspect of the muscle, it is also important to highlight its use in orthopedic surgery. In these cases it is used as an anatomical reference to guide the surgeon in hip surgeries.

Once the tensor fascia lata is identified, other important anatomical structures can easily be seen during these types of surgical procedures.

Clinical significance

Because the tensor fascia lata aids in hip movements and pelvic stability, when there is an injury anywhere along its path, symptoms are important.

Injuries to this muscle can occur to anyone, however, they are more common in athletes, especially runners and cyclists.

When the lower part of the muscle, which is attached to the femur, becomes inflamed, a syndrome called 'Fascia Lata syndrome' occurs, also known as 'Ilio-Tibial Rib syndrome' or 'Corridor syndrome'.

This condition occurs due to overload on the portion of the muscle that rests on the femur. It is characterized by pain in the lateral part of the knee, which improves with rest and worsens with activity. Also characteristic is the presence of a rubbing sound in the knee.

Diagnosis and treatment

The diagnosis of fascia lata syndrome is basically clinical through the physical examination performed by the traumatologist in a patient in whom this injury is suspected.

Once the condition is diagnosed, the therapeutic approach should be oriented according to the symptoms and limitations that the patient presents.

The first part of the treatment is conservative. This means that invasive procedures, such as injections or surgeries, are avoided, and a plan is started with cold therapy, pain relievers, and physical rehabilitation.

Physical therapy consists of special exercises to warm up and stretch the muscle properly. If a lot of inflammation is noted, in some cases the injection of corticosteroids that serve as local anti-inflammatories is considered.

By Dhdnzk - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, In the event that this first phase of treatment fails and the patient continues with symptoms, the second therapeutic stage begins, where methods such as ultrasound and electric wave therapy and muscle stimulation are applied.

In some cases, where conservative therapy is not efficient, surgical therapy should be considered. However, these are rare cases, and most individuals with the syndrome improve with conservative therapies.

References

1. Trammell AP, Pilson H. (2018). Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Tensor Fasciae Latae Muscle. Taken from: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
2. Gottschalk, F., Kourosh, S., & Leveau, B. (1989). The functional anatomy of tensor fasciae latae and gluteus medius and minimus. Journal of anatom.
3. Saade, FA. (1998). Blood supply of tensor fascia latae muscle. Clinical Anatomy. Taken from: nlm.nih.gov.
4. Sher, I; Umans, H; Downie, SA; Tobin, K; Arora, R; Olson, TR. (2011). Skeletal radiology. Taken from: nlm.nih.gov.
5. Beals, C., & Flanigan, D. (2013). A Review of Treatments for Iliotibial Band Syndrome in the Athletic Population. Journal of sports medicine (Hindawi Publishing Corporation). Taken from: nlm.nih.gov.