Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Plast Surg 2011; 44(03): 478-483
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1699521
Original Article
Association of Plastic Surgeons of India

Anatomical study of superficial fascia and localized fat deposits of abdomen

Pramod Kumar
Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Manipal, Karnataka, India
,
Arvind K. Pandey
1   Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India
,
Brijesh Kumar
1   Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India
,
Shrinivas K. Aithal
2   Department of Physics, Manipal Institute of Tehnology, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2019 (online)

Also available at
  PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

ABSTRACT

Background: The development of liposuction and abdominoplasty has renewed interest in the anatomy of the localized fat deposits (LFD) areas of the abdomen. This study aims at ascertaining the gross anatomy of superficial fascia and the localized fat deposits of abdomen. Materials and Methods: Eight adult cadavers (four males and four females) were dissected. Attachments, number of layers of fascia and colour, shape and maximum size of the fat lobules in loin, and upper and lower abdomen were noted. Thickness of deep membranous layer of superficial fascia of upper abdomen and lower abdomen were measured by metal casing electronic digital calipers, with resolution being 10 μm. The independent sample t-test, ANOVA for comparison and Pearson coefficient for correlation were used. Results: Superficial fascia of the abdomen was multilayered in the midline and number of layers reduced laterally. The shape, size, color, and arrangement of fat lobules were different in different locations. The thickness of the fascia of the lower abdomen in males (mean 528.336 ± SE38.48) was significantly (P<0.041) more than that in females. (Mean 390.822 ± SE36.24). Pearson correlation between thickness of the membranous layer of the upper and lower abdomen revealed moderately positive correlation (r=0.718; P<0.045). Conclusions: The LFD in the central region of the abdomen corresponds to the area of multilayered fascia with smaller fat lobules. The relatively thinner supporting fascia of the lower abdomen in females may be responsible for excessive bulges of the lower abdomen. The fat lobule anatomy at different sites under study was different.

KEY WORDS

Abdominal obesity - localized fat deposits - superficial fascia abdomen
 

  • REFERENCES

  • 1 Borley NR. Anterior abdominal wall. In: Standring S, editor. Gray’s anatomy. The anatomical basis of clinical practice. 40th ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. p. 1060.
  • 2 Moore KL, Dalley AF, editors. Clinically oriented anatomy. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wikins; 2006. p. 196-8.
  • 3 Romanes GJ, editor. Cunningham’s text book of anatomy. 12th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1981. p. 275.
  • 4 Basmajian JV, editor. Grant’s method of anatomy. 10th ed. Baltimore: Willams and Wilkins; 1980. p. 123.
  • 5 Hall-Craggs EC, editors. Anatomy as a basis for clinical medicine. 2nd ed. Baltimore-Munich: Urban and Schwarzenberg; 1990. p. 225.
  • 6 Hollinshed WH, Rosse C, editors. Text book of Anatomy. 4th ed. Philadelhia: Harper and Row; 1985. p. 581.
  • 7 Snell RS, editor. Clinical anatomy for medical students. 5th ed. Boston: Little, Brown and Co.; 1995. p. 136.
  • 8 Sinnatamby CS, editor. Last’s anatomy, regional and applied. 11th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2006. p. 185.
  • 9 Abu-Hijesh MF, Roushier AL. The membranous layer of superficial fascia: Evidence for its widespread of the body. Surg Radiol Anat 2006;28:606-19.
  • 10 Lockwood TE. Superficial fascial system (SFS) of the trunk and extermities: A new concept. Plastic Reconstr Surg 1991;87:1009-18.
  • 11 Forster DS. A note on scarpa’s fascia. J Anat 1937;72:130.
  • 12 Howell AB. Anatomy of the inguinal region. Surgery 1939;6:653.
  • 13 Tobin CE, Benjamin JA. Anatomical and clinical re-evaluation of Camper’s, Scarpa’s and Colles’s fasciae. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1949;88:545-59.
  • 14 Yves Illouz, editor. Body Sculpturing by lipoplasty. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1989.
  • 15 Markman B, Barton FE Jr. Anatomy of the subcutaneous tissue of the trunk and lower extremity. Plast Reconstr Surg 1987;80:248-54.
  • 16 Wendell-Smith CP. Fascia: An illustrative problem in international terminology. Surg Radiol Anat 1997;19:273-7.
  • 17 Bjorntorp P. Adipose tissue distribution and function. Int J Obes 1991;15 Suppl 2:67-81.
  • 18 Fried SK, Kral JG. Sex differences in regional distribution of fat cell size and lipoprotein lipase activity in morbidly obese patients. Int J Obes 1987;11:129-40.
  • 19 Avelar J. Regional distribution and behavior of the subcutaneous tissue concerning selection and indication for liposuction. Aesthetic Plast Surg 1989;13:155-65.
  • 20 Champe PC, Harvey RA, editors. Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott William and Wilkins; 2008. p. 350.
  • 21 Wigley Caroline. Cells, tissue and systems. In: Standring S editor. Gray’s anatomy. The anatomical basis of clinical practice. 40th ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. p. 39-40.
  • 22 Rosengren A, Howken S, Ounpuu S, Sliwa K, Zubaid M, Almahameed WA, et al. Effect of Potentially modifiable risk factors associated with Myocardial Infarction in 52 countries. Lancet 2004;364:937-52.