Etymed
fasciitis
Definition
Inflammation of fascia, the fibrous connective tissue that surrounds muscles, blood vessels, and nerves
Clinical context
A 35-year-old runner presents with severe pain and swelling in his calf muscle that has progressively worsened over 3 days. On examination, there is marked tenderness to palpation of the posterior calf, and the patient reports that stretching the affected muscle causes intense pain. The patient has no history of trauma but has been training intensively for a marathon. Imaging reveals thickening of the fascial layers around the affected muscle.
Mnemonic
Fasciitis = Fascia + Inflammation = FASCIA INFLAMED