loose areolar tissue Loose areolar tissue is another name for the loose connective tissue layer of the scalp. Pus or blood can spread easily in this layer, and infections in this layer can pass into the cranial cavity through emissary veins. So, infections in the loose connective tissue can pass into intracranial structures such as the brain and meninges. This can also be called the "danger layer" of the scalp.
Remember--the scalp is comprised of the following layers, from superficial to deep: Skin, Connective tissue, Aponeurosis, Loose connective tissue, and Pericranium. (SCALP!) Although layer 2 is a connective tissue layer, too, this layer is a bit thicker and is not a place where infections can easily spread.