Twenty-eight skinfold measurements taken from 223 Japanese females, ranging in age from 16 to 26 years, were analyzed to study the anatomical distribution and total mass of subcutaneous fat on the trunk and limbs. The measured thicknesses of subcutaneous fat varied on average from 5.8 to 22.7mm. The thicker skinfolds were obtained from the abdomen, waist, and thigh. The calculated total mass of subcutaneous fat on the trunk and limbs was 13.7±3.78kg, corresponding to 23.3±3.87% of total body weight. The slopes of the regression lines between the total mass of subcutaneous fat and skinfolds ranged from 0.22 to 2.19. The slopes obtained for the abdomen, greater trochanter and thigh were steeper than those for other regions. It is suggested that the Japanese females have greater skinfolds at the abdomen, waist and thigh than at other regions, and that differences exist among various regions in subcutaneous fat accumulation.

The reliability of B-mode ultrasound for measuring subcutaneous fat thickness was evaluated in the cadaver. The ultrasonic device used in this study was the linear type employing a 5 MHz transducer. Ultrasonically determined-measurements of subcutaneous fat thickness was obtained on the upper arm, thigh, leg and abdomen. The border between subcutaneous fat and muscle tissues was able to be distinguish clearly by using this ultrasonic device. The subcutaneous fat thickness obtained ultrasonically were lower than those measured directly with using the slide calipers in the cadaver. Mean difference (standard deviation) between these values was 1.65 mm (0.98 mm) . A statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.97 (p<0.001) and the linear regression equation of D=1.0963 B+0.9332 was observed between the subcutaneous fat thickness obtained from a B-mode ultrasonic (B) and direct (D) methods. The results suggest that B-mode ultrasonic device may be able to use for measuring subcutaneous fat thickness and a more reliable fat thickness may be able to obtain by revising the ultrasonically determined-measurements.

A study was carried out to investigate the distribution pattern of the subcutaneous fat on the whole body. Two helathy males, 31 and 38 years of age, participated as subjects in this study. Subcutaneous fat thickness measurements were made on the trunk, the upper and lower extremities, and the buttock with using B-mode ultrasonic device employing a 5 MHz transducer. The thicker subcutaneous fat were obtained on the portion near navel, outer sites of the lower trunk and the thigh just under the buttock for the both subjects. The thinner portions, on the other hand, were showed on the upper sites of the chest, forearm and leg. On the extremities, fat thickness was relatively remained constant over the whole sites compared with those on the trunk. These results suggest that the fat thickness distribution on the trunk is more significant than those on the extremities in males.

The effect of submaximal arm, leg, and“arm+leg”exercise on oxygen uptake (VO₂), heart rate (HR), and pulmonary ventilation (V_E) was studied in three male subjects. The“arm+leg”exercise was performed in ten different ways with different arm load ranging from 14 to 60% of the total work load. VO₂ and V_E were found higher in the arm exercise than in the other types of exercise at submaximal work. At a given work load, the lowest HR was observed in the“arm+leg”exrcise when the arm was loaded with 14 to 33% of the total work load. And the highest HR was obtained in the arm exercise. The higher HR during the arm exercise as compared to the legor“arm + leg”exercise may be accounted for by the fact that an exercise with small muscle group appears to elicit lower stroke volume and more pronounced rise in sympathetic tone. In the“arm + leg”exercise, HR at a given work load or VO₂ varied with the proportion of arm load. However V_E, whcih might be affected by stroke volume, was unaffected by the rate of arm to the total work load at a given work load or VO₂. This indicates that the sympathetic tone may be affected by the proportion of work load distribution on the active msucle groups in the“arm + leg”exercise.