US Medical Term · anatomy
Subcutaneous Tissue
Tejido subcutáneo
Also: Hipodermis (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Subcutaneous Tissue |
| Spanish (Español) | Tejido subcutáneo |
| Chinese (中文) | 皮下組織 |
| Korean (한국어) | 피하조직 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Mô dưới da |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Subcutaneous na tisyu |
| Portuguese (Português) | Tecido subcutâneo |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ชั้นไขมันใต้ผิวหนัง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 皮下組織 |
What it means
The subcutaneous tissue, sometimes called the hypodermis, is the deepest layer of your skin. It sits below the dermis and is made up mainly of fat and loose connective tissue. This layer acts as a cushion to protect your internal organs and bones from impact, stores energy in the form of fat, and helps regulate body temperature by insulating the body. Blood vessels and nerves that supply the upper skin layers run through this tissue. When medications like insulin are injected under the skin, they go into this layer. Conditions such as lipomas (benign fat lumps) and cellulitis (bacterial infection) can develop in the subcutaneous tissue.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My injection goes into the subcutaneous tissue just under the skin.
La inyección va en el tejido subcutáneo justo debajo de la piel.
The doctor said the infection reached the subcutaneous tissue and I need antibiotics.
El médico dijo que la infección llegó al tejido subcutáneo y necesito antibióticos.
I have a lump under my skin in the subcutaneous layer — what could it be?
Tengo un bulto bajo la piel en el tejido subcutáneo — ¿qué podría ser?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026