Anatomy and Physiology

A Dictionary of Biology A Dictionary of Nursing A Dictionary of Food and... A Dictionary of Food and... Further reading

brown fat

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Copyright

brown fat A darker coloured region of adipose tissue found in newborn and hibernating animals (in which it may also be called the hibernating gland). Compared to normal white fat, deposits of brown fat are more richly supplied with blood vessels and have numerous mitochondria (hence the brown colour, due to the high concentrations of cytochrome oxidase). They can also be more rapidly converted to heat energy – a process that takes place in the fat cells themselves – especially during arousal from hibernation and during cold stress in young animals. Since the deposits are strategically placed near major blood vessels, the heat they generate warms the blood returning to the heart. Some types of obesity in humans may be linked to a lack of brown fat in affected individuals. See thermogenesis.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"brown fat." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"brown fat." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-brownfat.html

"brown fat." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-brownfat.html

Learn more about citation styles

brown fat

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

brown fat (brown) n. a form of fat in adipose tissue that is a rich source of energy and can be converted rapidly to heat. There is speculation that a rapid turnover of brown fat occurs to balance excessive intake of food and unnecessary production of white fat (making up the bulk of adipose tissue). Some forms of obesity may be linked to lack of – or inability to synthesize – brown fat.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"brown fat." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"brown fat." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-brownfat.html

"brown fat." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-brownfat.html

Learn more about citation styles

brown adipose tissue

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | | Copyright

brown adipose tissue (brown fat) Metabolically highly active adipose tissue, which is involved in heat production to maintain body temperature, as opposed to white adipose tissue, which is storage fat and has a low rate of metabolic activity.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

DAVID A. BENDER. "brown adipose tissue." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "brown adipose tissue." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-brownadiposetissue.html

DAVID A. BENDER. "brown adipose tissue." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-brownadiposetissue.html

Learn more about citation styles

fat, brown

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | | Copyright

fat, brown See brown adipose tissue.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

DAVID A. BENDER. "fat, brown." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "fat, brown." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-fatbrown.html

DAVID A. BENDER. "fat, brown." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-fatbrown.html

Learn more about citation styles

brown fat

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | | Copyright

brown fat See brown adipose tissue.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

DAVID A. BENDER. "brown fat." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "brown fat." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-brownfat.html

DAVID A. BENDER. "brown fat." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-brownfat.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Brown Adipose Tissue: A Really Cool Idea. Magazine article from: Internal Medicine Alert; 5/29/2009
	Brown adipose tissue in a newborn.(Radiology Report) Magazine article from: Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings; 7/1/2008
	Fatty acid synthesis and generation of glycerol-3-phosphate in brown adipose... Magazine article from: Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology; 7/1/2008