Hemofuscin

/ˌhɛmoʊˈfʌsɪn/ noun

Definition

A brownish pigment that forms in tissues from the breakdown of hemoglobin and accumulates over time, indicating old blood cells.

Etymology

From Greek 'haima' (blood) and Latin 'fuscus' (dark brown). This term emerged in pathology to describe the golden-brown pigment that cells store as they clean up remnants of aged red blood cells.

Kelly Says

Hemofuscin is basically your body's 'rust'—it's the stain left behind after your spleen breaks down old red blood cells, and it accumulates in your tissues like a history book of every cell that ever died!

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