OF THE SKIN. 107 



cellulosa subcutanea (fig. 45, d), and the proper corium (tig. 45, c); 

 the latter of which, from its rich nervous and vascular supply, 

 forms the most important part of the skin. 



§ 32. 



The subcutaneous cellular tissue is a tolerably firm mem- 

 brane, constituted chiefly of connective tissue, which in by far 

 the most parts of the body, incloses within its meshes a 

 considerable quantity of fat-cells (fig. 45, /), thus forming the 

 panniculus adiposus ; in some situations, however, as for 

 example in the scrotum, the penis, and the nymphae, &c, it 

 contains but little or even no fat. The innermost layer of the 

 subcutaneous cellular tissue, which upon the trunk and thighs 

 forms a tolerably firm fatless texture, the fascia superficialis, 

 rests upon different organs, as muscular fascia, periosteum 

 and perichondrium, muscles, and the deeper accumulations of 

 fat, and is more or less closely united with them. The union 

 is looser upon the trunk, the two distal divisions of the limbs, 

 the back of the hand and foot, the neck, and especially on the 

 eyelids ; the penis, scrotum, and on the extensor side of the 

 articulations, where the subcutaneous mucous bursa?, as they 

 are called, are frequently situated, as, for instance, in the 

 knee, elbow, aud phalangeal joints. A more close connection 

 sometimes exists, — as where tendiuous fibres or processes 

 (aponeurosis palmaris and plant aris, tinea alba), or muscles 

 (palmaris brevis, levator labii superioris alceque nasi, levator labii 

 superioris, k,c), are inserted into the skin; sometimes, — as where 

 the innermost layers of the subcutaneous cellular tissue are 

 blended, as it were, by means of short, strong, filaments of con- 

 nective tissue with the subjacent muscles, fascia, tendons, &c. 

 particularly, therefore, on the head, especially on the ala nasi 

 and lips, the forehead and temples, the ear, mouth, and occiput; 

 on the ylans penis, beneath the nails, &c. In general, where 

 the fat forms a thick layer, the skin is less moveable than 

 when from any cause it is less abundant or entirely absent. 



The external surface of the subcutaneous cellular tissue, is 

 connected by means of numerous filamentary processes of 

 connective tissue, with the corium, and is not everywhere 

 clearly distinct from it ; but a separation between the subcu- 

 taneous cellular tissue and the corium may be pretty readily 



