The sonographic fat/muscle ratio.

A wide variety of biochemical and morphometric parameters have been applied to estimation of nutritional status. A-mode ultrasound has been used to estimate subcutaneous fat thickness in humans; similar studies are reported in the veterinary literature. We applied B-mode ultrasonography to the triceps region of the nondominant arm. Subcutaneous fat and triceps muscle thickness were measured and the ratio of fat to muscle calculated.