Lipofuscin is a brownish pigment left over from the breakdown and absorption of damaged blood cells.
Lipofuscin is found in heart muscle and smooth muscles. It is also called the aging pigment.
Alternative Names
Wear and tear pigment; Lipochrome
Images
References
Kumar V, Abbas AK, Aster JC. Cellular responses to stress and toxic insults: adaptation, injury, and death. In: Kumar V, Abbas AK, Aster JC, eds. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 2.
Orchard GE. Pigments and minerals. In: Suvarna SK, Layton C, Bancroft JD, eds. Bancroft's Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 14.
Review Date 2/7/2019
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
