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Panniculus carnosus

The panniculus carnosus is part of the subcutaneous tissue. It consists of sheets of flat muscle contained in the panniculus adiposus. The general arrangement is that one end of the muscle sheet is attached to skin's dermis and the other is attached to deep fascia or bone. It therefore moves, wrinkles or dimples the skin.

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Its degree of development varies in different animals. In domestic quadrupeds such as horses and cattle it is evenly distributed over the body wall, and can be seen in action when these animals twitch their skin to discourage flying insects.

In humans, the panniculus carnosus is highly developed and specialised, primarily to form muscles of the scalp and face. It is also present in other areas of the body wall.

Muscles of the panniculus carnosus

Scalp:
- occiptalis
- frontalis (also a muscle of the face)
Face:
- orbicularis oculi
- levator palpebrae superioris
- compressor naris
- dilator naris
- orbicularis oris
- modiolus
- levator labii superioris alaeque nasi
- levator labii superioris
- levator anguli oris
- zygomaticus minor and zygomaticus major
- risorius
- depressor anguli oris
- depressor labii inferioris
- mentalis
- platysma
Hand:
- palmaris brevis
Chest:
- Subareolar muscle of the nipple
Anogenital region:
- corrigator cutis ani
- dartos muscle of the scrotum and labia majora