Question

What happens to the iron (Fe3+) that is released during the breakdown of damaged red blood cells?

a.It attaches to transferrin and is transported to bone marrow for use in hemoglobin synthesis.

b.It is used to synthesize proteins.

c.It is utilized by intestinal bacteria to convert bilirubin into urobilinogen.

d.It is converted into urobilin and excreted in urine. It is transported to the liver where it becomes part of bile.

Answer 1

During the breakdown of damaged red blood cells, the released iron (Fe3+) can either be transported to the bone marrow for use in hemoglobin synthesis or stored in the liver as part of bile.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the breakdown of damaged red blood cells, the iron (Fe3+) released from hemoglobin can follow several pathways. It can either attach to transferrin and be transported to the bone marrow for use in hemoglobin synthesis (option a), or it can be stored in the liver or spleen in the form of ferritin or hemosiderin. Another pathway is the conversion of heme into bilirubin, which binds to albumin and is transported to the liver to be used in the production of bile. Bile is then released into the intestines, where bacteria converts bilirubin into urobilinogen and eventually stercobilin, which is eliminated in the feces (option d).