Subcutaneous fat is found just beneath the skin as opposed to visceral fat which is found in the peritoneal cavity. Subcutaneous fat can be measured using body fat calipers giving a rough estimate of total body adiposity. This fat aids in the process of homeostasis, by forming a layer of insulation to slow heat loss.
The subcutaneous tissue is a layer of fat that lies between the dermis of the skin and underlying fascia. Subcutaneous fat insulates the body, absorbs trauma, and is a reserve energy source.[1] This tissue may be further divided into two components, the actual fatty layer, or panniculus adiposus, and a deeper vestigial layer of muscle, the panniculus carnosus.[2]
Hypothetical function during human evolution
Body fat is cited within the aquatic ape hypothesis as the result of adaptation to aquatic environments, as a means of streamlining and insulation.[3] Others have pointed out in response that the subcutaneous fat distribution in humans is more similar to a domesticated animal than an aquatic one, and is nearly identical to that of other primates.[4][5] The subcutaneous fat of aquatic mammals and humans also seems to serve different uses - it forms the streamlined shape of seals, while in humans it is used for sexual selection; humans display considerable sexual dimorphism in their fat distribution, which is not explained by the AAH.[6][7]
References
- ^ Marks, James G; Miller, Jeffery (2006). Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology (4th ed.). Elsevier Inc. Page 12-13. ISBN 1-4160-3185-5.
- ^ McGrath, J.A.; Eady, R.A.; Pope, F.M. (2004). Rook's Textbook of Dermatology (Seventh Edition). Blackwell Publishing. Pages 3.1. ISBN 9780632064298.
- ^ Morgan, Elaine (1997). The Aquatic Ape Hypothesis. Souvenir Press. ISBN 0-285-63518-2.
- ^ Pond, C (1998). The Fats of Life. Cambridge University Press. pp. 236-8. ISBN 0521635772.
- ^ Adams, C (2002-01-22). "Did humans descend from "aquatic apes"?". The Straight Dope. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1991/did-humans-descend-from-aquatic-apes. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
- ^ Moore, J (2004-02-02). "Fat and the AAT/H". http://www.aquaticape.org/fat.html. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
- ^ Laden, G (2009-08-04). "Musings on the Aquatic Ape Theory". ScienceBlogs. http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/08/musings_on_the_aquatic_ape_the.php. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
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