Conclusion

The Cinderella Layer exists to some degree in every square centimeter of the body. Our exploration reveals a range between short and long tethers, tight and loose tethers, dense and filmy tethers in an anatomic layer all but overlooked. Like its namesake, the Cinderella Layer has beauty and natural purpose. We have presented this new discovery and concept in a more qualitative than measured format; however, the observations seem irrefutable and universally relevant to anybody who works on or lives in human form. In concert, these variable attachments between the dermis and the underlying fascia make teleological sense as they not only determine our external appearance, but also facilitate movement. Form and function are not mutually exclusive, rather they are mutually necessary and inseparable. The skin and its boundary, anchor, animator, accordion-like and elastic band tethers facilitate rotation, flexion and extension through leverage, laxity and tension. These attachments reinforce ligamentous and musculoskeletal stops regulating hyperextension and are primarily responsible for elasticity or recoil bringing the body back into its resting form. With this in mind, we are invited to clear our minds of some old assumptions and create a new canvas of the human body using an invigorated and exciting palette of colors or concepts. When viewing the live, injured and scarred human body, our attention might be drawn to a lack of animation or possibly, asymmetric appearance and movement. Often this is a manifestation of injury to the subcutaneous endoskeleton that connects the skin to the muscular fascia and bones. We now know that each unique human body is sculpted with contours defined by these deep skin attachments. Seeing and understanding this anatomy, helps us approach the human form through a new lens of clarity.