nonadipose

Nonadipose refers to tissues and organs that are not adipose tissue. In anatomy and physiology, adipose tissue is a specialized connective tissue for lipid storage, whereas nonadipose tissues comprise most other body tissues, including skeletal muscle, liver, heart, brain, bone, kidney, and various epithelia and connective tissues.

Nonadipose tissues are heterogeneous in cellular composition and function, performing tasks such as contraction, filtration, signaling, electrical conduction, and structural support. They store energy transiently in forms such as glycogen or small lipid droplets, but not as large triglyceride depots that characterize adipose tissue. Most nonadipose tissues rely on other energy systems and substrates to meet metabolic needs.

In health and disease, lipids can accumulate in nonadipose tissues (ectopic fat deposition) such as the liver or muscle, particularly when adipose storage is overwhelmed or deficient. Such ectopic lipids are associated with metabolic disturbances, including insulin resistance and organ dysfunction, and can accompany conditions like obesity, lipodystrophy, and certain metabolic syndromes.

In research and clinical imaging, nonadipose often denotes all tissue types excluding adipose tissue. The term helps describe body composition, tissue-specific functions, or signal changes in imaging studies, and contrasts with adipose tissue in studies of metabolism or fat distribution.