Table 1.
Human adipose tissue classification, distribution, and function. In this table, the function of human adipose tissue, and how it is classified and distributed, is described. As can be seen, it is very diverse, can be located in all areas of the body and also has a specific function, depending on its location. AT is a vital tissue and is present in almost all parts of the organism. WAT: white adipose tissue; BAT: brown adipose tissue; BMAT: bone marrow adipose tissue; FFA: free fatty acids; SAT: subcutaneous adipose tissue; VAT: visceral adipose tissue; UCP: uncoupling protein.
| AT Type | Subdivision | Localization | Function | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAT | Supraclavicular neck mediastinum | Body thermoregulation ↑ mitochondria ↑ UCP1 energy expenditure | [18,21] | |
| Paravertebral suprarenal | ||||
| BEIGE | SAT to VAT BAT | Colocalized, inducible and transient tissue | [22,23] | |
| WAT | VAT (upper) | perigonadal (pgWAT) | Cushioning thermoregulating energy storage metabolically active secretes adipokines | [18] |
| retroperitoneal (rWAT) | ||||
| mesenteric (mWAT) | ||||
| perirenal (prWAT) | ||||
| omental (oWAT) | ||||
| epicardial/pericardial | ||||
| SAT (lower) | Abdominal gluteal femoral | Insulation energy storage adipokines least harmful site of lipid storage | [18] | |
| deep (dSAT) | More harmful than VAT inflammatory cytokines | [15] | ||
| pink (piSAT) mammary glands | transdifferentiating in mammary glands | [24] | ||
| dermal (dWAT) | wound healing hair follicles thermogenic larger adipocytes and not hematopoietic | [15] | ||
| BMAT | Constitutive cBMAT | distal skeleton, spine, and proximal limb bones | [15] | |
| Regulated rBMAT | Hematopoietic respond to metabolic signals adiponectin source ↑ adipocytes by age and provides FFA to bone | [15] |