Final answer:
The statement that the average concentration of hemoglobin is 15.0 g/dl is a simplification but generally falls within the average range for healthy adult women. Iron deficiency anemia features significantly lower hemoglobin levels, demonstrating the protein's vital role in oxygen transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
False, the average concentration of hemoglobin in healthy adults is approximately 13.8 to 17.2 grams per deciliter (g/dl) for men and 12.1 to 15.1 g/dl for women. The statement that the average concentration of hemoglobin is 15.0 g hemoglobin/dl blood would be a simplification and more specifically aligns within the average range for women but is generally true for a broader population.
Iron deficiency anemia is characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin levels to 5 to 9 g/100 ml of blood, significantly lower than the average. In this condition, individuals, particularly children, adolescent girls, and nursing mothers, may experience symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and pale skin due to the reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of their blood. Hemoglobin is crucial for the transportation of oxygen as it binds oxygen molecules; each hemoglobin molecule can transport four oxygen molecules.
Hemoglobin has different forms, with hemoglobin A being the most prevalent, constituting about 90% of hemoglobin in humans. Minor components of hemoglobin, such as hemoglobin A1c, make up approximately 8% and have clinical significance, particularly in monitoring diabetes.