brown adipose tissue
Thermogenic body fat
Brown adipose tissue is body fat specialized for generating heat rather than storing energy.
Unlike ordinary white fat, it contains abundant mitochondria that burn calories to produce warmth—particularly important in newborns and hibernating animals.
Adults retain small deposits, mainly around the neck and shoulders.
Also called brown fat.
Lipid-storing cells
- vascularizedDeveloped blood vessel network
- innervationNerve supply to tissue
- iron-richHigh iron content
- histologyStudy of tissue structure
biopsy · morphology · PET scan · imaging · depot · cervical · mediastinal
Metabolic production of warmth
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- energy expenditurePower used by activity
- metabolic rateBody's energy consumption pace
- norepinephrineAlertness and stress hormone
insulin sensitivity · leptin · bioenergetics · beta-oxidation
Of earliest infancy
- newbornInfant just delivered
- thermogenesisMetabolic production of warmth
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
- prematureOccurring before expected
birthweight · incubator · developmental · pediatrics · thermal protection
Reduction in body mass
- energy balanceIntake versus expenditure ratio
- anti-obesityCombating excessive body fat
- metabolic syndromeClustered cardiovascular risk factors
Inactive, sluggish state
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
- arousalStirring to heightened state
- rewarmingHeating something again
- winter survivalPersisting through freezing conditions
fat reserves · energy conservation · seasonal cycles · bear · ground squirrel · bat · dormouse · hedgehog
adipocytes
Lipid-storing cells
- vascularizedDeveloped blood vessel network
- innervationNerve supply to tissue
- iron-richHigh iron content
histology · biopsy · morphology · PET scan · imaging · depot · cervical · mediastinal
thermogenesis
Metabolic production of warmth
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- energy expenditurePower used by activity
- metabolic rateBody's energy consumption pace
norepinephrine · insulin sensitivity · leptin · bioenergetics · beta-oxidation
neonatal
Of earliest infancy
- newbornInfant just delivered
- thermogenesisMetabolic production of warmth
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
premature · birthweight · incubator · developmental · pediatrics · thermal protection
weight loss
Reduction in body mass
- energy balanceIntake versus expenditure ratio
- anti-obesityCombating excessive body fat
- metabolic syndromeClustered cardiovascular risk factors
torpor
Inactive, sluggish state
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
- arousalStirring to heightened state
- rewarmingHeating something again
winter survival · fat reserves · energy conservation · seasonal cycles · bear · ground squirrel · bat · dormouse · hedgehog · metabolic depression