Adipose tissue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adipose tissue |
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Adipose tissue is one of the main types of connective tissue |
Adipose tissue, also known as body fat or simply fat, is a special type of connective tissue found in your body. It's mostly made of cells called adipocytes. These cells are like tiny storage units for energy.
Adipose tissue starts from cells called preadipocytes. Its main job is to store energy from the food you eat. This energy is kept as lipids, which are a type of fat. Adipose tissue also helps to cushion your body and keep you warm.
In recent years, scientists have learned that adipose tissue is more than just a storage place. It acts like an important organ that produces hormones. Some of these hormones include leptin, estrogen, resistin, and cytokine.
There are two main types of adipose tissue:
- White adipose tissue (WAT) stores energy.
- Brown adipose tissue (BAT) creates body heat.
The way adipose tissue forms is partly controlled by a special gene called the adipose gene. Brown adipose tissue was first described by a Swiss scientist named Conrad Gessner in 1551.
Images for kids
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Abdominal obesity in men ("beer belly")
See also
In Spanish: Tejido adiposo para niños