Iron metabolism
Iron Metabolism
Iron metabolism is the set of biochemical reactions that maintain homeostasis of iron at both the systemic and cellular level. Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, an erythrocyte protein that transfers oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.
Pronunciation
Iron Metabolism: /ˈaɪərn mɪˈtæbəlɪzəm/
Etymology
The term "Iron" comes from the Old English word "iren", and "Metabolism" is derived from the Greek word "metabole" which means "change".
Process
Iron metabolism primarily involves the regulation of two processes - the absorption of dietary iron in the duodenum and the recycling of iron from senescent red blood cells.
Related Terms
- Hemoglobin: A red protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood of vertebrates.
- Erythrocyte: Also known as a red blood cell, which carries oxygen to the body's tissues.
- Duodenum: The first part of the small intestine immediately beyond the stomach, leading to the jejunum.
- Hepcidin: A hormone produced by the liver that regulates iron balance in the body.
- Ferritin: A universal intracellular protein that stores iron and releases it in a controlled fashion.
Disorders of Iron Metabolism
Disorders of iron metabolism can lead to iron deficiency anemia, hemochromatosis and other diseases. These disorders can be caused by an over-absorption of iron or when the body's mechanism for storing and releasing iron is disrupted.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Iron metabolism
- Wikipedia's article - Iron metabolism
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski