Haemoglobin

Haemoglobin (also spelled hemoglobin and abbreviated Hb or Hgb) is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells of almost all vertebrates (the exception being the fish family Channichthyidae) as well as the tissues of some invertebrates. Haemoglobin in the blood carries oxygen from the respiratory organs (lungs or gills) to the rest of the body (i.e. the tissues) where it releases the oxygen to burn nutrients to provide energy to power the functions of the organism, and collects the resultant carbon dioxide to bring it back to the respiratory organs to be dispensed from the organism.

Structure

Haemoglobin is a tetramer of globular proteins, each made up of an amino acid chain wrapped around a heme group. Each heme group contains an iron atom, which is responsible for binding oxygen. The four protein chains are two alpha chains and two beta chains in adult humans.

Function

The primary function of haemoglobin is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body. It also helps in the transportation of carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions back to the lungs.

Disorders

There are several disorders associated with haemoglobin, including sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and various other forms of anaemia. These disorders can lead to a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.

See also

• Red blood cell
• Oxygen transport
• Carbon dioxide transport
• Iron metabolism

External links

• Haemoglobin at WikiMD

Haemoglobin Resources
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