Adipose tissue - Anatomical features

Adipose tissue is an anatomical term for loose connective tissue composed of adipocytes. Its main role is to store energy in the form of fat, although it also cushions and insulates the body. It has an important endocrine function in producing recently-discovered hormones such as leptin, resistin and TNFα. Adipose tissue - Anatomical features. Adipose tissue is primarily located beneath the skin, but is also found around internal organs. In the skin, it accumulates in the deepest level, the subcutaneous la ...

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• Adipose tissue - Anatomical features
• Adipose tissue - Physiology
• Adipose tissue - Cultural and social role

Read more here: » Adipose tissue: Encyclopedia - Adipose tissue

Adipose tissue is primarily located beneath the skin, but is also found around internal organs. In the skin, it accumulates in the deepest level, the subcutaneous layer, providing insulation from heat and cold. Around organs, it provides protective padding. It also functions as a reserve of nutrients. In a severely obese person, excess adipose tissue hanging downward from the abdomen is referred to as a panniculus (or pannus). A panniculus complicates surgery of the morbidly obese, and may remain as a literal "apron of skin" if a severely obese person quickly loses large ...

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Adipose tissue, Adipose tissue - Anatomical features, Adipose tissue - Physiology, Adipose tissue - Cultural and social role

Read more here: » Adipose tissue: Encyclopedia II - Adipose tissue - Anatomical features

Free fatty acid is "liberated" from lipoproteins by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and enters the adipocyte, where it is reassembled into triglycerides by esterising it onto glycerol. Fat cells have an important physiological role in maintaining triglyceride and free fatty acid levels, as well as determining insulin resistance. Abdominal fat has a different metabolic profile—being more prone to induce insulin resistance. This explains to a large degree why central obesity is a marker of impaired glucose tolerance and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (even in the ab ...

See also:

Adipose tissue, Adipose tissue - Anatomical features, Adipose tissue - Physiology, Adipose tissue - Cultural and social role

Read more here: » Adipose tissue: Encyclopedia II - Adipose tissue - Physiology