hemoglobin

noun he·mo·glo·bin \ˈhē-mə-ˌglō-bən\

: the part of blood that contains iron, carries oxygen through the body, and gives blood its red color

Full Definition of HEMOGLOBIN

: an iron-containing respiratory pigment of vertebrate red blood cells that consists of a globin composed of four subunits each of which is linked to a heme molecule, that functions in oxygen transport to the tissues after conversion to oxygenated form in the gills or lungs, and that assists in carbon dioxide transport back to the gills or lungs after surrender of its oxygen

: any of numerous iron-containing respiratory pigments of various organisms (as invertebrates and yeasts)

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Origin of HEMOGLOBIN

International Scientific Vocabulary, short for earlier hematoglobulin

First Known Use: 1869

Other Biochemistry Terms

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HEMOGLOBIN Defined for Kids

hemoglobin

noun he·mo·glo·bin \ˈhē-mə-ˌglō-bən\

Definition of HEMOGLOBIN for Kids

: a protein of red blood cells that contains iron and carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs

Medical Dictionary

hemoglobin

noun he·mo·glo·bin

Medical Definition of HEMOGLOBIN

: an iron-containing respiratory pigment of vertebrate red blood cells that functions primarily in the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body, that consists of four polypeptide chains of which two are of the type designated alpha and two are of one of the types designated beta, gamma, or delta and each of which is linked to a heme molecule, that combines loosely and reversibly with oxygen in the lungs or gills to form oxyhemoglobin and with carbon dioxide in the tissues to form carbhemoglobin, that in humans is present normally in blood to the extent of 14 to 16 grams in 100 milliliters expressed sometimes on a scale of 0 to 100 with an average normal value (as 15 grams) taken as 100, and that is determined in blood either colorimetrically or by quantitative estimation of the iron present—see fetal hemoglobin, hemoglobin a; compare carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin

: any of numerous iron-containing respiratory pigments of various organisms (as invertebrates and yeasts)