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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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