The Hypodermis (= subcutaneous tissue = superficial fascia) is NOT part of the skin. It consists mainly of adipose tissue plus some areolar tissue. "Beer belly" in man and thick thights and buttocks in female are due to too much fat stored in the hypodermis of these regions of the body.

Hypodermis shares the skin protective functions: it stores fat and thus helps prevent heat loss and acts as a shock absorber; it anchors the skin to the underlying structures allowing the skin to slide almost freely over them. This feature ensure that blows just glance of the body without injuring the tissues below.