Final answer:
After removal from circulation, hemoglobin is broken down into amino acids and waste products. The amino acids are reused for new red blood cells while the waste products contribute to digestion and are excreted. Excessive hemolysis can lead to kidney damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the removal of red blood cells from the circulation, hemoglobin is broken down into several components. The globin part, a protein, gets processed into amino acids and sent back to the bone marrow to contribute to the production of new erythrocytes (red blood cells). The heme group in hemoglobin undergoes a different pathway; the iron contained is stored and reused, while the non-iron part is converted into biliverdin and then to bilirubin, which eventually helps in the digestion of fats and is excreted from the body.
Hemoglobin is a vital protein for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. Upon reaching the end of their life span or when damaged, red blood cells are broken down by macrophages. Iron from the heme is recycled, with the rest of the heme structure being transformed into waste products that play roles in the body before being excreted.
In instances where red blood cells are broken down en masse, such as in hemolytic conditions, the kidneys can be overwhelmed by the free hemoglobin, leading to potential kidney damage. Careful management of such conditions is critical to prevent complications like kidney failure.