Adipose is a loose connective tissue that makes up the spaces in between our organs and tissues which provides structural and metabolic support. The main role of adipose is to store energy in the form of lipids. However it also serves as cushions and insulates the body. Adipose tissue – more particularly, the brown adipose tissue – was first identified by Swiss naturalist Conrad Gessner in 1551. When Conrad Gessner first discovered the tissue he described it as it was “neither fat, nor flesh – but something in between.” (Gessner K, 1551). There are two types of adipose tissue that are found in all mammals: • White adipose tissue (WAT) and • Brown adipose tissue (BAT). White fat tissue is the most well-known and all the more regularly known …show more content…
White adipocytes are globular in shape and the size of the lipid droplet stored in them determines how big they get. This lipid droplet comprises of triglyceride which takes up more than 90% of the cell volume. Mitochondria in white adipocytes are thin, elongated and variable in amount. On the contrary, Brown adipocytes contain many small lipid droplets as well as a high number of mitochondria. Brown adipose gets its dark red-brown colour from its high iron content found in the mitochondria. While white fat stores excess energy as triglycerides, the function of brown fat is to use up energy though the generation of heat. Therefore, brown fat is abundant in small mammals or human new-borns which are more susceptible to low temperatures. The Importance of Adipose …show more content…
It not only protects, warms, but also fuels our daily lives. There are two types of adipose tissue that are present in mammals: white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). They have different distinctive capacities and their make-up is different from each other. Adipose tissue can carry immense health risks and could destroy our bodies. However it is also essential for our daily function. Having either too much or too little can pose severe health implications. More commonly, having too much adipose tissue leads to obesity which would further leads to a number of serious health