The panniculus carnosus is a part of the subcutaneous tissues in the study of animal anatomy. It is a layer of striated muscle deep to the panniculus adiposus.^[1] In humans only the platysma muscle of the neck is described as a discrete muscle of the panniculus carnosus. In other parts of the body, the layer is vestigial, and may be absent or may exist only as microscopic, disconnected fibers.

In other animals, the panniculus carnosus is more extensive. A grazing animal may twitch the panniculus carnosus to frustrate the attempts of a bird to perch on its back. This is known as twitching the withers. For another example, the panniculus carnosus in the echidna covers almost its entire body, enabling it to change its shape to a certain degree, most characteristically by rolling into a ball and presenting its spines to a potential predator.

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v • d • e Integumentary system (TA A16, GA 10.1062) Skin Epidermis Stratum corneum · Stratum lucidum · Stratum granulosum · Stratum spinosum · Stratum germinativum (basale) Basement membrane zone Basal keratinocyte · Lamina lucida · Lamina densa Dermis Papillary · Reticular Subcutaneous tissue Panniculus adiposus · Panniculus carnosus · Stratum membranosum · Loose connective tissue · Superficial fascia Adnexa Glands Sweat glands: Apocrine · Eccrine Sebaceous Hair Outer root sheath Inner root sheath Shaft Cuticle · Cortex · Medulla · Bulb with matrix cells · Hair papilla Muscle Arrector pili Nail Matrix · Lunula · Nail plate · Eponychium · Paronychium · Hyponychium Other Skin flora integument, SF, LCT navs: anat/physio, noncongen/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc skin appendage navs: anat, noncongen/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

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