Hemosiderin
Hemosiderin
Hemosiderin (/hɪˈmɒsɪˌdaɪrɪn/) is a form of iron storage complex found in the body. It is an intracellular material produced by phagocytic digestion of hematin.
Etymology
The term 'Hemosiderin' is derived from the Greek words 'haima' meaning 'blood' and 'sideros' meaning 'iron'.
Function
Hemosiderin is primarily found in macrophages and is created from the breakdown of hemoglobin. It serves as a way to store excess iron in the body. When the body needs iron, it converts hemosiderin back into a usable form.
Related Terms
- Hemochromatosis: A medical condition that causes the body to absorb too much iron from the diet. The excess iron is stored in the body's tissues and organs, particularly the skin, heart, liver, pancreas, and joints.
- Hemoglobin: The protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
- Macrophages: A type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, and cancer cells in a process called phagocytosis.
- Hematin: An oxidation product of hemoglobin.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hemosiderin
- Wikipedia's article - Hemosiderin
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