Gross anatomy of superficial fascia and future localised fat deposit areas of the abdomen in foetus.
BACKGROUND
The development and popularity of body contouring procedures such as liposuction and abdominoplasty has renewed interest in the anatomy of the superficial fascia and subcutaneous fat deposits of the abdomen. The study of anatomy of fascia and fetal adipose tissue was proposed as it may be of value in understanding the possible programing of prevention of obesity.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was undertaken to understand the gross anatomy of superficial fascia of abdomen and to study the gross anatomy of future localized fat deposits (LFDs) area of abdomen in fetus.


METHODS
Four fetus (two male & two female) of four month of intrauterine life were dissected. Attachments & layers of superficial fascia and future subcutaneous fat deposit area of upper and lower abdomen were noted.


RESULTS
Superficial fascia of the abdomen was multi layered in mid line and number of layers reduced laterally as in adult. The future abdominal LFD (localized fat deposits) area in fetus shows brownish-white blubbary tissue without well-defined adult fat lobules.


CONCLUSIONS
The attachment and gross anatomy of superficial fascia of the fetus was similar to that in adults. The future LFD areas showed brownish white blubbary tissue with ill-defined fat lobules.
Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Pramod
P
Kumar
Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Arvind Kumar
AK
Pandey
Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Brijesh
B
Kumar
Department of Physics, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
K S
KS
Aithal
Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Antony Sylvan
AS
Dsouza
Localised fat deposits; obesity; subcutaneous fat; superficial fascia