Absorbent article

An absorbent article characterized by comprising:

• a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a depth direction;
• a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline;
• a first transverse direction end edge and a second transverse direction end edge;
• an opposing pair of longitudinal direction side edges extending between and connecting the first transverse direction end edge and the second transverse direction end edge;
• an anterior region, a posterior region, and a central region between the anterior region and the posterior region;
• a topsheet layer comprising:
• a hydrophilic central layer extending in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article and symmetrically straddling the longitudinal centerline, the central layer having a first longitudinal direction side edge and a second longitudinal direction side edge,
• a discrete first side layer having a first inner edge and in an overlapping configuration with the central layer such that the first inner edge of the first side layer is positioned closer in the transverse direction to the longitudinal centerline than the first longitudinal direction side edge of the central layer, and
• a discrete second side layer having a second inner edge and in an overlapping configuration with the central layer such that the second inner edge of the second side layer is positioned closer in the transverse direction to the longitudinal centerline than the second longitudinal direction side edge of the central layer;
• a first embossment embossing the central layer and the discrete first side layer;
• a second embossment embossing the central layer and the discrete second side layer;
• a third embossment disposed on the central layer between the discrete first side layer and the discrete second side layer, wherein the third embossment is a discrete embossment such that third embossment does not emboss either of the discrete first side layer or the discrete second side layer;
• a backsheet layer;
• and
• an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the backsheet layer and having a first depression located in the depth direction beneath the first embossment and a second depression located in the depth direction beneath the second embossment and a third depression located in the depth direction beneath the third embossment.