[TA] superficial portion of the subcutaneous tissue of certain areas of the body (e.g., inferior portion of anterior abdominal wall) that is specialized for fat storage and thus often has an abundance of fat, especially in an overnourished person, compared with the deeper, fibrous portion of the subcutaneous tissue; in morbid obesity, this layer forms the core of a large, sagging apronlike fold.fatty layer of subcutaneous tissue of abdomen. SYN: panniculus adiposus [TA].