Brown adipose tissue

Definition

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a type of fat found in the body that generates heat to help maintain body temperature in cold environments and during the neonatal period. Unlike white adipose tissue, which stores energy, brown adipose tissue burns calories to produce warmth without shivering, a process known as thermogenesis.

Related terms

Thermogenesis: The process by which heat is produced in organisms, often through metabolism and involving brown adipose tissue.

Neonate: A newborn child, especially one less than four weeks old, where brown adipose tissue plays a critical role in maintaining body temperature.

Metabolism: The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms that includes catabolic and anabolic processes, with brown adipose tissue significantly contributing to energy expenditure through thermogenesis