Fetal hemoglobin

Fetal Hemoglobin (HbF)

Fetal hemoglobin (also foetal haemoglobin, Hemoglobin F or HbF) is a type of hemoglobin that is present in fetuses and infants. It is pronounced as /ˈfiːtəl ˈhiːməˌɡloʊbɪn/.

Etymology

The term "fetal hemoglobin" is derived from the Latin word "fetus", meaning offspring, and the Greek word "haima", meaning blood, and "globin", a protein.

Definition

Fetal hemoglobin is a type of hemoglobin that is produced by the fetus during gestation. It has a higher affinity for oxygen than adult hemoglobin, allowing it to effectively pull oxygen from the mother's bloodstream and into the fetus's.

Structure

Fetal hemoglobin is a tetramer composed of two alpha (alpha globin) and two gamma (gamma globin) globin chains. This differs from adult hemoglobin, which is composed of two alpha and two beta (beta globin) chains.

Function

The primary function of fetal hemoglobin is to transport oxygen from the mother's bloodstream to the developing fetus. Due to its higher affinity for oxygen, it is able to effectively extract oxygen from the mother's blood and deliver it to the fetus.

Related Terms

• Hemoglobin
• Alpha globin
• Beta globin
• Gamma globin
• Oxygen
• Fetus

See Also

• Hemoglobinopathy
• Sickle cell disease
• Thalassemia

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Fetal hemoglobin
• Wikipedia's article - Fetal hemoglobin

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