Burns Pediatric Primary Care Test Bank Related

Review Burns Pediatric Primary Care Test Bank related questions and content

Which is a function of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in the newborn?

  • A. Provides ready source of calories in the newborn period
  • B. Insulates the body against lowered environmental temperature
  • C. Protects the newborn from injury during the birth process
  • D. Generates heat for distribution to other parts of body
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is specialized adipose tissue found in newborns and hibernating mammals, whose primary function is to generate heat through non-shivering thermogenesis. This heat generation is essential for maintaining body temperature in newborns, especially as they have a larger surface area-to-volume ratio, which results in greater heat loss compared to adults. BAT produces heat by metabolizing stored lipids and disrupting the normal process of cellular respiration, leading to the production of heat instead of ATP. The heat generated by BAT is then distributed throughout the body to help maintain a stable core body temperature in newborns, who are not yet able to regulate their body temperature as effectively as adults.