Hematin

/ˈhɛmətɪn/ noun

Definition

The iron-containing component of hemoglobin, also known as a dark brownish compound produced when hemoglobin breaks down.

Etymology

From Greek 'haima' (blood) + '-in' suffix for chemical compounds. The term was coined in the 1800s when chemists were isolating and naming the components of blood.

Kelly Says

Hematin is basically the iron core of your blood—it's what makes blood red, and when your body breaks down old red blood cells, hematin gets converted into bilirubin, which is why bruises turn yellow-green!

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