The composition of body tissues

Abstract

A reassessment of the composition data given by ICRP (1975) has been completed, augmented with results from appropriate recent studies. The water, lipid, protein, carbohydrate and ash contents, together with elemental compositions, mass and electron densities are given here for 56 body tissues. Seven tissues (adipose tissue, heart, kidney, liver, mammary gland, muscle--skeletal and skin) had sufficient measured data to enable the spread in the results to be evaluated. All the compositions presented apply to healthy, adult humans, except for some new material on the bones of children.