ADIPOSE CELL

also called Fat Cell, connective-tissue cell specialized to synthesize and contain large globules of fat. The chief chemical constituents of this fat are the neutral glycerol esters of stearic, oleic, and palmitic acids. The fat stored in these cells in part comes directly from the fats eaten and in part is manufactured within the body from fats and carbohydrates in the food and sometimes from protein. The main reservoir of fat in the body is the adipose tissue beneath the skin, called the panniculus adiposus. There are also deposits of fat between the muscles, among the intestines and in their mesentery, around the heart, and elsewhere. Besides acting as a fuel reserve against times of starvation or great exertion, adipose tissue helps conserve the heat of the body and forms soft and elastic pads between the various organs.