Dictionary > Adipocyte

Adipocyte

Definition
noun, plural: adipocytes
A specialized connective tissue cell that stores fat (lipid); the predominant cell in the adipose tissues
Supplement
In animals, the connective tissue is one of the major types of tissues and its main functions are to provide structural support and to connect tissues and organs. The cellular elements of the connective tissues are adipocytes, fibroblasts, and blood cells (such as macrophages, mast cells, etc.).
The adipocytes are specialized type of connective tissue cells in the adipose tissue. They comprise the bulk of the adipose tissues. Other cells (collectively called stromal vascular fraction) are present in relatively fewer number. In general, the adipocytes are bloated with globules of triglycerides. The nucleus is displaced to one side and the cytoplasm is seen as a thin line around the fat droplet.
The main function of adipocytes is to store fat. Apart from serving as a source of energy in the form of fat, the adipose tissue is also important in providing cushion, thermal insulation of vital organs, lubrication (chiefly in the pericardium), and hormones (such as leptin). There are two major types of adipose tissues: (1) white adipose tissue and (2) brown adipose tissue.
The white adipose tissue is comprised of white fat cells. These adipoctytes are monovacuolar. The cell has a large lipid droplet in its cytoplasm and a flattened nucleus at the periphery. The fat molecules contained in these adipocytes are primarily triglycerides and cholesteryl ester.
The brown adipose tissue has a darker colour. Its main function is to generate body heat. The brown fat cells are plurivacuolar. The adipocyte in this tissue contains several smaller droplets, with round nucleus that is eccentrically located, and more mitochondria (which accounts for the brownish color). The brown adipose tissue has more capillaries than white adipose tissue has.
Synonym(s):

  • fat cell
  • lipocyte

See also:

  • adipose tissue


  • You will also like...

    Homeostasis by water regulation
    Homeostasis of Organism Water Regulation

    Osmoregulation is the regulation of water concentrations in the bloodstream, effectively controlling the amount of water..

    dinosaurs
    The Dinosaurs

    Dinosaurs represented a major turn in the evolutionary development of organisms on Earth. The first dinosaurs were presu..

    Hominid
    The Hominids

    The hominid family diversified from the apes around 6 to 8 million years ago. Since then, the evolutionary path has prov..

    Angle Oak Tree
    Seed Plants

    Seed plants are vascular plants. They differ from the other vascular plants in producing seeds that germinate into a new..

    Golgi apparatus (3-D illustration)
    Role of Golgi Apparatus & Endoplasmic Reticulum in Protein Synthesis

    The endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus are the organelles involved in the translation step of protein synthesis a..

    Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung
    Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung

    In this tutorial, the works of Carl Gustav Jung and Sigmund Freud are described. Both of them actively pursued the way h..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics