Fat body

Fat body is a highly dynamic insect tissue composed primarily of storage cells.

Its main functions are nutrient storage and metabolism, for which it is commonly compared to a combination of adipose tissue and liver in mammals.

The fat body serves different roles including lipid storage and metabolism, endocrine regulation, and immunity.

[3] The fat body is of mesodermal origin and is normally composed of a network of thin sheets, ribbons or small nodules suspended in hemocoel by connective tissue and tracheae, so that most of its cells are in direct contact with hemolymph.

Nevertheless, it is present in other arthropod subphyla including Chelicerata, Crustacea, and all major classes of Myriapoda, although not all subtaxa.