Connective Tissue or Fascia?
Scientists add more and more value to the influence connective tissue has. Connective tissue however is an incomplete name because it does so much more then only connect. Generally it is said that everything with a base of collagen is called fascia. Fascia (fasciae) is the name we rather like to use.
Fascia is the matrix of our body. It is already shaping the embryo in the most early stage and important for the shaping of the whole. The structure of fascia is collagen. Collagen shapes our bones, organs, blood and muscles. Even better; when you would take out all the cells in our heart (heart cells) which are not collagen you would still see the form of the hearts like the white one in this picture. Research even found out the when a specific electromagnetic pulse is added to the fascial heart it begins to beat.
The largest part of our bodies exist out of water. The tissue in our body that gives shape and strength is collagen. There have been found 28 different kinds of collagen in the human body. Few of them have been researched and are known for their function. These few are 95% of the total.
Fibroblasts are responsibly for making collagen: glycosaminoglycans (molecules that balance and bind water) and proteoglycans (molecules that attach to water and function as a shock absorber). Fibroblasts are cells in our fascia. Activating the fibroblasts is of importance to keep our body healthy and rich in water/hydrated. Fibroblasts make new connections and enlarge, strengthen and reshape the fascia network.
Also formed within our fascia is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid attracts water and gives the molecules a gel shape like structure. This gel becomes more fluid when pressure or traction is applied. More fluidity results is more free flow of energy called Chi. When pressure or stress on fascia is released the hyaluronic acid has an immediate response.
4 Types
When we talk about fascia we acknowledge 4 types of tissues:
* Nervous tissue – Brain, nerves and spinal cord.
* Epithelial Tissue – skin, (hollow-)organs and intestines.
* Muscle Tissue – Heartmuscles, smoothe muscles around the organs for movement and skeletal muscles.
* Connective Tissue – Fat, tendons, blood and bones.