Ultrasonic observation on distribution of subcutaneous fat in Japanese young adults with reference to sexual difference.

Utilizing an ultrasonic device (B-mode, 7.5MHz), the thickness of subcutaneous fat was measured at 54 different points in the bodies of 59 males (aged 20-25) and 66 females (aged 20-23). The results were as follows: 1. The females had significantly thicker subcutaneous fat than those of the males at every point measured. 2. The thick subcutaneous fats were observed at the abdomen, buttocks, and the anterior and medial parts of the thigh in the males, and at the breast, buttocks, abdomen, the posterior, medial, and anterior parts of the thigh, and the anterior, medial, and posterior parts of the upperarm in the females, respectively. 3. The subcutaneous fat of both sexes was more likely to be thicker in body parts closer to the trunk than the extremities. 4. The correlation coefficient between the percent body fat and the mean thickness of subcutaneous fat obtained from data was 0.91 for the males and 0.83 for the females.