Electron microscopic study on the elastic and elastic related fibres in the human fascia transversalis at different ages.

An electron microscopic study of the elastic fibre and elastic related fibres of the fascia transversalis of the human inguinal triangle was performed in 20 male patients aged 13 to 81 a with right indirect inguinal hernia submitted to surgical repair. The 3 fibre types comprising the elastic system (oxytalan, elaunin, and elastic fibres) tend to be ordered in a precise manner and sequence among the fibrils, fibres, and collagen fibre bundles, respectively. The present findings show that with aging, there is a decrease in the oxytalan fibres and an increase in the amorphous substance of the elastic fibres. The authors concluded that the decrease in oxytalan fibres as a function of age may be responsible for alteration in the resistance of the transversalis fascia.