The abdominal subcutaneous tissue: computed tomographic, magnetic resonance, and anatomical observations.

We have studied the fasciae of the abdominal subcutaneous layer by analyzing axial CT images taken at a level immediately superior to the iliac crests in 20 adult female patients. The pattern of the fascial planes seen at this level was compared with those seen on MRI and dissected cadaveric sections. We have demonstrated a circumferential subcutaneous fascial plane that divides the subcutaneous fat into a single superficial fat compartment and a single deep fat compartment.