The hypodermis, or subcutaneous tissue, is the layer of loose connective tissue and fat lying under the dermis. It anchors the skin to the underlying fascia and muscle while letting it slide. Its thickness varies greatly with body region, sex and body fat.
| Location | Deep to the dermis, superficial to the deep fascia |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Cutaneous branches of the spinal and cranial nerves (sensory); Postganglionic sympathetic fibres (blood vessels, sweat glands, arrector pili) |
| Blood Supply | Direct cutaneous arteries; Musculocutaneous and fasciocutaneous perforator arteries; Subdermal and subpapillary arterial plexuses |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Insulates the body, stores energy, cushions underlying structures and attaches skin loosely to deeper tissues.
This layer is where subcutaneous injections such as insulin and heparin are given, because it absorbs drugs slowly and steadily. Its fat insulates the body, cushions bony points and stores energy. Infection spreading through it can become necrotising fasciitis, a surgical emergency, and the superficial veins and cutaneous nerves run within it.
A rapidly spreading, life-threatening infection of the subcutaneous tissue and fascia needing urgent surgery.
A soft, slow-growing benign lump of fat in the subcutaneous tissue.
Loss or abnormal distribution of subcutaneous fat, including localised changes at repeated insulin injection sites.
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