Visceral fascia

The visceral fascia is a connective tissue layer that encloses and supports the organs (viscera) within the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities. It is continuous with the parietal fascia where vessels, ducts, and nerves enter each organ.

It forms supportive sheaths, ligaments, and mesenteries, maintaining organ position and providing pathways for neurovascular structures. It also connects organs to one another and to the cavity wall while allowing a degree of mobility and expansion during physiological activity.

Examples

• Visceral pleural fascia around the lungs.

• Visceral pericardial fascia surrounding the heart.

• Visceral pelvic fascia investing the bladder, rectum, and reproductive organs.

Difference from Visceral Peritoneum

• The visceral fascia is a connective tissue layer that forms the structural and vascular framework of the organ.

• The visceral peritoneum is the outer serous membrane that covers the organ’s surface, facing the peritoneal cavity and secreting serous fluid for lubrication.

• Anatomically, the visceral peritoneum lies external (superficial) to the visceral fascia.

Layer order (from superficial to deep)

Peritoneal cavity → Visceral peritoneum → Visceral fascia → Organ (parenchyma)