Question

Identify the tissue that stores fat in the human body.

• A. Epithelial tissue
• B. Adipose tissue
• C. Nervous tissue
• D. Muscular tissue

Hint:

Remember the four types of animal tissue and their key functions:
Epithelial = protection, lining, secretion.
Connective = support, binding, fat storage (adipose is a connective tissue).
Muscular = movement, contraction.
Nervous = impulse transmission, coordination.
``Adipo'' comes from the Latin adeps meaning fat --- a helpful etymological clue.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:
The human body is composed of four primary types of tissues: epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous. Each tissue type has specialized functions. The storage of fat (lipids) is a specific function of a particular type of connective tissue.

Step 1: What is Adipose tissue?

Adipose tissue is a specialized form of

loose connective tissue composed predominantly of

adipocytes (fat cells, also called lipocytes). Each adipocyte is filled with a large lipid droplet that pushes the nucleus to the periphery of the cell.

Functions of adipose tissue:

• Energy storage: Fat is stored in the form of triglycerides and released when the body needs energy.

• Thermal insulation: Subcutaneous (under-skin) fat acts as an insulating layer to retain body heat.

• Mechanical cushioning: Protects organs and joints from mechanical shock (e.g., fat around the kidneys, eyes).

• Hormone production: Adipose tissue secretes hormones like leptin (regulates appetite) and adiponectin.

Step 2: Analyse the other options.

• (A) Epithelial tissue: Lines the surfaces of organs and body cavities (skin, intestinal lining, respiratory tract). Its functions are protection, absorption, secretion, and excretion. It does

not store fat.

• (C) Nervous tissue: Found in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It transmits electrical impulses and processes information. While neurons do have a fatty myelin sheath (made of Schwann cells), nervous tissue itself is

not a fat-storage tissue.

• (D) Muscular tissue: Specialized for contraction and movement. The three types are skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle. Muscles may accumulate some intramuscular fat under pathological conditions, but their primary function is

not fat storage.

Step 3: Location of adipose tissue in the body.
Adipose tissue is found:

• Subcutaneously (beneath the skin) --- largest depot.

• Around internal organs (visceral fat): kidneys, heart, intestines.

• In bone marrow (yellow bone marrow).

• In the breasts.