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Scarpa's Fascia And Clinical Signs: The Role Of The Membranous Superficial Fascia In The Eponymous Clinical Signs Of Retroperitoneal Catastrophe., Shanoor Ullah, Robert Grant, Marjorie Johnson, Vivian C. Mcalister

Vivian C. McAlister

This article deals with the history of membranous superficial fascia (Antonio Scarpa, Abraham Colles), the history of clinical signs that use discoloration of the torso (Cullen's sign, Grey Turner's sign, Fox's sign, Bryant's sign) and then describes anatomical dissection studies to link the two.

INTRODUCTION: The membranous superficial fascia (MSF) was described early in the 19th century, as was its role in the clinical sign of urethral disruption. Clinical signs of haemorrhage or leakage of pancreatic and biliary fluid into the retroperitoneum, which were described throughout the 20th century, all relied on circumscribed discolouration of the skin of the torso. …