Which is a breakdown product of hemoglobin?

Get ready for the VTNE Laboratory Procedures Test with our multiple choice questions and flashcards. Practice with hints and detailed explanations to ensure success!

Multiple Choice

Which is a breakdown product of hemoglobin?

Explanation:
When red blood cells are broken down, hemoglobin is split into globin and heme. The globin portion is recycled into amino acids, while the heme portion is further processed first into biliverdin and then into bilirubin. Bilirubin travels to the liver to be conjugated and excreted in bile, making it the breakdown product of hemoglobin. The other options aren’t derived from hemoglobin breakdown: erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates red cell production; urea comes from nitrogen metabolism of amino acids; carotene is a dietary pigment from plants.

When red blood cells are broken down, hemoglobin is split into globin and heme. The globin portion is recycled into amino acids, while the heme portion is further processed first into biliverdin and then into bilirubin. Bilirubin travels to the liver to be conjugated and excreted in bile, making it the breakdown product of hemoglobin. The other options aren’t derived from hemoglobin breakdown: erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates red cell production; urea comes from nitrogen metabolism of amino acids; carotene is a dietary pigment from plants.

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