Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStructureFunctionInjectionsEffect of AgeFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Structure
Function
Injections
Effect of Age
Frequently Asked Questions
Subcutaneous tissue, also known as thehypodermis, is the innermost layer of skin. It’s made up of fat and connective tissues that house larger blood vessels and nerves.
It acts as an insulator to help regulate body temperature.The thickness of this subcutaneous layer varies throughout the body and also from person to person.
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Layers of the SkinThe skin is composed of three layers:EpidermisDermisSubcutaneous tissue
Layers of the Skin
The skin is composed of three layers:EpidermisDermisSubcutaneous tissue
The skin is composed of three layers:
Subcutaneous Tissue Structure
Several structures and specialized cells exist within the subcutaneous tissue. These include:
The hypodermis is largely composed ofadipose tissue(fat tissue), which is made up of adipocytes, or fat cells.The amount of adipose tissue varies throughout the body. It’s thickest in the buttocks, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet.
Subcutaneous Tissue Functions
Subcutaneous tissue has several functions in the body. It helps provide insulation, regulate temperature, and store fat. Because subcutaneous tissue is the deepest layer of the skin, it attaches the other skin layers to tissues under the skin, like bones and muscles.
Energy Reserve
The adipose tissue in the epidermis acts as an energy reserve.Once the body uses up energy acquired from consuming carbohydrates, it turns to adipose tissue as a fuel source, leading to weight loss.
Hormone Production
Provides Protection
This fat acts as armor that protects muscles, bones, organs, and more delicate tissues. Think of subcutaneous tissue as the protective gear that athletes such as football and ice hockey players wear. It’s the body’s natural padding that cushions and protects your bones and muscles if you fall or take a hit.
Regulates Body Temperature
Subcutaneous Injections
Since the subcutaneous tissue contains a limited network of blood vessels, medications injected here are absorbed gradually over time.This makes them an ideal route for many drugs. That’s why many medications are injected into the hypodermis.
The parts of the body that have greater concentrations of subcutaneous tissue make them ideal injection sites. These include the:
Effect of Age on Subcutaneous Tissue
As you age, subcutaneous tissue starts to thin out. This weakened layer of insulation makes the body more sensitive to the cold because having less tissue makes it harder to stay warm.
While the hypodermis isn’t visible, it can dramatically affect the appearance of the skin and how aging impacts the skin, specifically in the area of the face and neck.
With aging, the volume of facial fat decreases, and there is less supportive tissue to support the skin’s normal elasticity.The facial skin begins to droop and sag; the bones and muscles of the face also lose volume. Some people may choose to receive chemical cosmetic fillers to “plump up” the skin in these areas.
How to Choose a Facial Filler
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt’s important for storing fat (energy storage), producing hormones (leptin), regulating body temperature (insulation), and protecting the body.Learn MoreThe Individual Layers of Skin and Their FunctionsIt’s the innermost layer of skin. It’s located underneath the outer layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis).Learn MoreThe Anatomy of the SkinYes. Subcutaneous tissue contains connective tissues that hold nerves and blood vessels.Learn MoreThe Integumentary System: Your Skin, Hair, Nails, and Glands
It’s important for storing fat (energy storage), producing hormones (leptin), regulating body temperature (insulation), and protecting the body.Learn MoreThe Individual Layers of Skin and Their Functions
It’s important for storing fat (energy storage), producing hormones (leptin), regulating body temperature (insulation), and protecting the body.
Learn MoreThe Individual Layers of Skin and Their Functions
It’s the innermost layer of skin. It’s located underneath the outer layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis).Learn MoreThe Anatomy of the Skin
It’s the innermost layer of skin. It’s located underneath the outer layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis).
Learn MoreThe Anatomy of the Skin
Yes. Subcutaneous tissue contains connective tissues that hold nerves and blood vessels.Learn MoreThe Integumentary System: Your Skin, Hair, Nails, and Glands
Yes. Subcutaneous tissue contains connective tissues that hold nerves and blood vessels.
Learn MoreThe Integumentary System: Your Skin, Hair, Nails, and Glands
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Driskell RR, Jahoda CA, Chuong CM, Watt FM, Horsley V.Defining dermal adipose tissue.Exp Dermatol. 2014;23(9):629–631. doi:10.1111/exd.12450Lopez-Ojeda W, Pandey A, Alhajj M, et al.Anatomy, Skin(Integument) In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441980/Agarwal S, Krishnamurthy K.Histology, Skin. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537325/Derraik JG, Rademaker M, Cutfield WS, et al.Effects of age, gender, BMI, and anatomical site on skin thickness in children and adults with diabetes.PLoS One. 2014;9(1):e86637. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086637Alexander CM, Kasza I, Yen CL, et al.Dermal white adipose tissue: a new component of the thermogenic response.J Lipid Res. 2015;56(11):2061–2069. doi:10.1194/jlr.R062893Ahn AC, Kaptchuk TJ.Spatial anisotropy analyses of subcutaneous tissue layer: potential insights into its biomechanical characteristics.J Anat. 2011;219(4):515–524. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01407.xKim H, Park H, Lee SJ.Effective method for drug injection into subcutaneous tissue.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):9613. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10110-wMateos MV, San Miguel JF.Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous formulation of bortezomib versus the conventional intravenous formulation in multiple myeloma.Ther Adv Hematol. 2012;3(2):117–124. doi:10.1177/2040620711432020Caso G, McNurlan MA, Mileva I, Zemlyak A, Mynarcik DC, Gelato MC.Peripheral fat loss and decline in adipogenesis in older humans.Metabolism. 2013;62(3):337–340. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2012.08.007Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against Skin Aging: The Way from Bench to Bedside.Cell Transplant. 2018;27(5):729–738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755National Cancer Institue: SEER Training Modules.Layers of the skin.Ishida T, Takeuchi K, Hayashi S, et al.Anatomical structure of the subcutaneous tissue on the anterior surface of human thigh.Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 2015;92(1):1-6. doi:10.2535/ofaj.92.1Additional ReadingMedlinePlus.Aging Changes in the Skin.MedlinePlus.Subcutaneous (SQ) Injections.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Driskell RR, Jahoda CA, Chuong CM, Watt FM, Horsley V.Defining dermal adipose tissue.Exp Dermatol. 2014;23(9):629–631. doi:10.1111/exd.12450Lopez-Ojeda W, Pandey A, Alhajj M, et al.Anatomy, Skin(Integument) In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441980/Agarwal S, Krishnamurthy K.Histology, Skin. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537325/Derraik JG, Rademaker M, Cutfield WS, et al.Effects of age, gender, BMI, and anatomical site on skin thickness in children and adults with diabetes.PLoS One. 2014;9(1):e86637. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086637Alexander CM, Kasza I, Yen CL, et al.Dermal white adipose tissue: a new component of the thermogenic response.J Lipid Res. 2015;56(11):2061–2069. doi:10.1194/jlr.R062893Ahn AC, Kaptchuk TJ.Spatial anisotropy analyses of subcutaneous tissue layer: potential insights into its biomechanical characteristics.J Anat. 2011;219(4):515–524. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01407.xKim H, Park H, Lee SJ.Effective method for drug injection into subcutaneous tissue.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):9613. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10110-wMateos MV, San Miguel JF.Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous formulation of bortezomib versus the conventional intravenous formulation in multiple myeloma.Ther Adv Hematol. 2012;3(2):117–124. doi:10.1177/2040620711432020Caso G, McNurlan MA, Mileva I, Zemlyak A, Mynarcik DC, Gelato MC.Peripheral fat loss and decline in adipogenesis in older humans.Metabolism. 2013;62(3):337–340. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2012.08.007Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against Skin Aging: The Way from Bench to Bedside.Cell Transplant. 2018;27(5):729–738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755National Cancer Institue: SEER Training Modules.Layers of the skin.Ishida T, Takeuchi K, Hayashi S, et al.Anatomical structure of the subcutaneous tissue on the anterior surface of human thigh.Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 2015;92(1):1-6. doi:10.2535/ofaj.92.1Additional ReadingMedlinePlus.Aging Changes in the Skin.MedlinePlus.Subcutaneous (SQ) Injections.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Driskell RR, Jahoda CA, Chuong CM, Watt FM, Horsley V.Defining dermal adipose tissue.Exp Dermatol. 2014;23(9):629–631. doi:10.1111/exd.12450Lopez-Ojeda W, Pandey A, Alhajj M, et al.Anatomy, Skin(Integument) In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441980/Agarwal S, Krishnamurthy K.Histology, Skin. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537325/Derraik JG, Rademaker M, Cutfield WS, et al.Effects of age, gender, BMI, and anatomical site on skin thickness in children and adults with diabetes.PLoS One. 2014;9(1):e86637. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086637Alexander CM, Kasza I, Yen CL, et al.Dermal white adipose tissue: a new component of the thermogenic response.J Lipid Res. 2015;56(11):2061–2069. doi:10.1194/jlr.R062893Ahn AC, Kaptchuk TJ.Spatial anisotropy analyses of subcutaneous tissue layer: potential insights into its biomechanical characteristics.J Anat. 2011;219(4):515–524. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01407.xKim H, Park H, Lee SJ.Effective method for drug injection into subcutaneous tissue.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):9613. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10110-wMateos MV, San Miguel JF.Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous formulation of bortezomib versus the conventional intravenous formulation in multiple myeloma.Ther Adv Hematol. 2012;3(2):117–124. doi:10.1177/2040620711432020Caso G, McNurlan MA, Mileva I, Zemlyak A, Mynarcik DC, Gelato MC.Peripheral fat loss and decline in adipogenesis in older humans.Metabolism. 2013;62(3):337–340. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2012.08.007Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against Skin Aging: The Way from Bench to Bedside.Cell Transplant. 2018;27(5):729–738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755National Cancer Institue: SEER Training Modules.Layers of the skin.Ishida T, Takeuchi K, Hayashi S, et al.Anatomical structure of the subcutaneous tissue on the anterior surface of human thigh.Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 2015;92(1):1-6. doi:10.2535/ofaj.92.1
Driskell RR, Jahoda CA, Chuong CM, Watt FM, Horsley V.Defining dermal adipose tissue.Exp Dermatol. 2014;23(9):629–631. doi:10.1111/exd.12450
Lopez-Ojeda W, Pandey A, Alhajj M, et al.Anatomy, Skin(Integument) In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441980/
Agarwal S, Krishnamurthy K.Histology, Skin. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537325/
Derraik JG, Rademaker M, Cutfield WS, et al.Effects of age, gender, BMI, and anatomical site on skin thickness in children and adults with diabetes.PLoS One. 2014;9(1):e86637. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086637
Alexander CM, Kasza I, Yen CL, et al.Dermal white adipose tissue: a new component of the thermogenic response.J Lipid Res. 2015;56(11):2061–2069. doi:10.1194/jlr.R062893
Ahn AC, Kaptchuk TJ.Spatial anisotropy analyses of subcutaneous tissue layer: potential insights into its biomechanical characteristics.J Anat. 2011;219(4):515–524. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01407.x
Kim H, Park H, Lee SJ.Effective method for drug injection into subcutaneous tissue.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):9613. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10110-w
Mateos MV, San Miguel JF.Safety and efficacy of subcutaneous formulation of bortezomib versus the conventional intravenous formulation in multiple myeloma.Ther Adv Hematol. 2012;3(2):117–124. doi:10.1177/2040620711432020
Caso G, McNurlan MA, Mileva I, Zemlyak A, Mynarcik DC, Gelato MC.Peripheral fat loss and decline in adipogenesis in older humans.Metabolism. 2013;62(3):337–340. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2012.08.007
Zhang S, Duan E.Fighting against Skin Aging: The Way from Bench to Bedside.Cell Transplant. 2018;27(5):729–738. doi:10.1177/0963689717725755
National Cancer Institue: SEER Training Modules.Layers of the skin.
Ishida T, Takeuchi K, Hayashi S, et al.Anatomical structure of the subcutaneous tissue on the anterior surface of human thigh.Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 2015;92(1):1-6. doi:10.2535/ofaj.92.1
MedlinePlus.Aging Changes in the Skin.MedlinePlus.Subcutaneous (SQ) Injections.
MedlinePlus.Aging Changes in the Skin.
MedlinePlus.Subcutaneous (SQ) Injections.
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