fat cells
Body's energy storage
Fat cells are the body's specialized storage units for energy, expanding and contracting as they accumulate or release lipids.
Also called adipocytes, they form adipose tissue throughout the body.
The number of fat cells remains relatively stable in adulthood—weight gain mostly enlarges existing cells rather than creating new ones.
Liposuction removes fat cells permanently, but remaining cells can still expand.
Lipid-storing cells
- connective tissueSupportive biological matrix
- collagenStructural body protein
- cell membraneOuter layer of cytoplasm
- nucleusCentral controlling part
cytoplasm · differentiation · proliferation · hypertrophy · hyperplasia · histology · biopsy · microscopy
Three-chained fat molecules
- glycerolTrihydric alcohol, viscous, sweet
- lipogenesisMetabolic fat production process
- lipolysisMetabolic fat decomposition
- lipidsWater-insoluble biomolecules
mitochondria · ATP · oxidation · thermogenesis · glucose · insulin · ketones · metabolic rate
Fat-derived hunger regulator
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- hormonesBloodstream signaling molecules
- insulin resistanceReduced cellular hormone sensitivity
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
receptors · secretion · inflammation · interleukins · satiety · metabolic syndrome
Body mass accumulation
- BMIWeight-to-height ratio
- overweightExceeding healthy mass
- body massTotal physical substance
- expansionIncrease in scope
hypertrophy · hyperplasia · diet · sedentary lifestyle · waistline · body composition · adiposity · weight loss
adipocytes
Lipid-storing cells
- connective tissueSupportive biological matrix
- collagenStructural body protein
- cell membraneOuter layer of cytoplasm
nucleus · cytoplasm · differentiation · proliferation · hypertrophy · hyperplasia · histology · biopsy · microscopy
triglycerides
Three-chained fat molecules
- glycerolTrihydric alcohol, viscous, sweet
- lipogenesisMetabolic fat production process
- lipolysisMetabolic fat decomposition
lipids · mitochondria · ATP · oxidation · thermogenesis · glucose · insulin · ketones · metabolic rate · catabolism
leptin
Fat-derived hunger regulator
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- hormonesBloodstream signaling molecules
- insulin resistanceReduced cellular hormone sensitivity
signaling · receptors · secretion · inflammation · interleukins · satiety · metabolic syndrome
weight gain
Body mass accumulation
- BMIWeight-to-height ratio
- overweightExceeding healthy mass
- body massTotal physical substance
expansion · hypertrophy · hyperplasia · diet · sedentary lifestyle · waistline · body composition · adiposity · weight loss · shrinkage
- body fatadipose, adipocytes, adiposity, love handles, muffin top
- cellsblood cell, cell theory, nerve cell, red blood cell, cell structure
- obesityobesity, obese, overweight, morbid obesity, childhood obesity
- connective tissueconnective tissue, collagen, elastin, cartilage, tendon
- liposuctionliposuction, lipo, cannula, suction, tumescent
- stromal cellsfibroblasts
fat cellsmuscle tissue
Contractile body material
skeletal muscle · muscle fibers · lean mass · connective tissue
fat, fatty, fats, cells, fatness, fatten, fattening, fattened, fattens