Soft tissues

Soft Tissues

Soft tissues (/sɒft 'tɪʃuːs/) refer to the tissues in the body that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body. They include muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, nerves, fibrous tissues, fat, blood vessels, and synovial membranes.

Etymology

The term "soft tissue" is derived from the Old English sōfte meaning "gentle, easy, calm" and the Latin tissue meaning "woven". It is used to differentiate these tissues from hard tissues like bone and teeth.

Types of Soft Tissues

• Muscles (/ˈmʌsəlz/): These are tissues that are responsible for producing force and motion. They are primarily responsible for maintaining and changing posture, locomotion, as well as movement of internal organs.

• Tendons (/ˈtɛndənz/): These are a type of connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. They are tough yet flexible bands of fibrous tissue.

• Ligaments (/ˈlɪɡəmənts/): These are the fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones. They are similar to tendons and fasciae as they are all made of connective tissue.

• Fascia (/ˈfæʃə/): This is a band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs.

• Nerves (/nɜːrvz/): These are the whitish fiber or bundle of fibers that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord, and impulses from these to the muscles and organs.

• Blood Vessels (/blʌd 'vɛsəlz/): These are the part of the circulatory system, and microcirculation, that transports blood throughout the human body.

• Synovial Membranes (/sɪˈnoʊviəl 'mɛmˌbreɪnz/): These are specialized connective tissues that line the inner surface of capsules of synovial joints and tendon sheath.

Related Terms

• Soft Tissue Injury: This refers to the damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons throughout the body. Common soft tissue injuries usually occur from a sprain, strain, a one-off blow resulting in a contusion or overuse of a particular part of the body.

• Soft Tissue Sarcoma: This is a type of cancer that begins in the soft tissues of the body.

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