It is *not* a pannus...

[Music in My Heart]

It turns out that all these years I've been using the word "pannus," I've been using it incorrectly.

That sheet of abdominal adipose tissue that we all wrestle with from time to time is *not* a pannus; rather, it is a panniculus.

From the 21st edition of Taber's (p. 1696):

pannus (pa˘n nu˘s) [L., cloth] 1. Superficial vascular inflammation of the cornea. 2. Inflamed synovial granulation tissue seen in chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

panniculus (pa˘n-ı˘k u--lu˘s) [L., a small piece of cloth] Any clothlike sheet or layer of tissue.

p. adiposus

The subcutaneous layer of fat; the fat cells in the superficial fascia.

 

 

 

 

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I thought the term "pannis" or "panniculus" was used to refer to the loose, flabby tissue that hangs far down, as in someone who has had a gastric-bypass and lost a lot of weight? I understood it had to refer to the flab of loose skin/tissue that hangs down in front, as in it could be lifted and held up, not just regular adipose tissue in the abdominal area. I think it is the spelling you had wrong~ pannis, not pannus.

[Stephalump]

I had a professor that used to weird us all out by talking about her "pannus" all the time. So of course, I started calling it a pannus.

I googled it one day and found the same thing...it's called a panniculus!

You'd think she'd at least embarrass herself using the right terminology.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I looked all three terms up~ "pannis" was used frequently, esp. in regards to post gastric-bypass surgery to remove this excess tissue. My daughter had a gastric-bypass last year; her doctor called it a "pannis."

[Stephalump]

I looked all three terms up~ "pannis" was used frequently esp. in regards to post gastric-bypass surgery to remove this excess tissue. My daughter had a gastric-bypass last year; her doctor called it a "pannis."[/quote'] Perhaps we were using different search engines. I looked up "pannis" and saw it used once, in reference to surgery.

But when I looked up "panniculectomy" and visited the sites, they did refer to it as a pannis removal occasionally.

When I added "surgery" to search term, I learned a whole lot more about member surgery than I ever needed to know.

So there you have it.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I use it often to document RA!

[SubSippi]

Hm…I always thought pannus = fat lady parts.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

"Panniculus" is the actual term for it, but "Pannus" is acceptable. It is also called an "Apron".

I think it is the spelling you had wrong~ pannis, not pannus.

Nope, no such word as "pannis" per Taber's (21st ed)

"Panniculus" is the actual term for it, but "Pannus" is acceptable.

That's what we all say but a 'pannus' is *not* a 'panniculus'... according to Taber's, anyway... the word 'pannus' has a specific meaning but it's not that big sheet of fat to which we're always referring (see OP).

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Hm…I always thought pannus = fat lady parts.

I think that's a FUPA.

[cardiacfreak, ADN]

FUPA, that cracks me up. :roflmao: