Fatty layer of abdominal subcutaneous tissue
Panniculus adiposus abdominis
- Synonym: Fatty layer of subcutaneous tissue of abdomen
- Eponym: Camper’s fascia
Definition
The fatty layer of abdominal subcutaneous tissue (previously superficial layer of abdominal fascia or fascia of Camper) is thick, areolar in texture, and contains in its meshes a varying quantity of adipose tissue.
Below, it passes over the inguinal ligament, and is continuous with the superficial fascia of the thigh.
In the male, Camper's fascia is continued over the penis and outer surface of the spermatic cord to the scrotum, where it helps to form the dartos. As it passes to the scrotum it changes its characteristics, becoming thin, destitute of adipose tissue, and of a pale reddish color, and in the scrotum it acquires some involuntary muscular fibers. From the scrotum it may be traced backward into continuity with the superficial fascia of the perineum.
In the female, Camper's fascia is continued from the abdomen into the labia majora.
References
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
