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mass
and fluid compartments
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Body composition analysis is the clinical assessment of tissue and fluid
distribution in the human body. The body is modeled as a series of tissue
and fluid compartments.
Fat Mass (FM) is the total amount of stored lipids in the
body and consists of the following types of fat:
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Subcutaneous Fat is located directly beneath the skin.
Subcutaneous fat serves as an energy reserve and as insulation
against outside cold.
Visceral Fat is located deeper within the body.
Visceral fat serves as an energy reserve and as a cushion
between organs.
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Fat-Free Mass (FFM), also called Lean Body Mass (LBM), is
the total amount of nonfat (lean) parts of the body. It consists
of approximately 73% water, 20% protein, 6% mineral, and 1% ash.
Fat-Free Mass is further divided into body cell mass and extracellular
mass:
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Body Cell Mass (BCM) contains all the metabolically
active tissues (living cells) of the body, including muscle
cells, organ cells, blood cells, and immune cells. BCM includes
the "living" portion of fat cells, but not the stored fat
lipids. BCM also includes water inside living cells. This
water is called Intracellular Water (ICW). The main
electrolyte of intracellular water is potassium.
Extracellular Mass (ECM) contains all the metabolically
inactive (non-living) parts of the body, such as bone
minerals and blood plasma. ECM includes water contained
outside living cells. This water is called Extracellular
Water (ECW). The main electrolyte of extracellular
water is sodium.
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The figure below provides a graphical representation of the relationship
of mass and water distribution.
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