The word "haematosine" is a medical term used to describe a pigment found in red blood cells. The correct spelling of this word is a result of its origin from the Greek word "haema," which means blood, and the Latin word "sine," meaning without. Thus, the combination of these two words results in "haematosine," which is pronounced as /hɛˈmætəsiːn/. This word is commonly used among hematologists and medical researchers to refer to this specific pigment.
Haematosine is a term derived from the combination of "haemato," which refers to blood, and "sine," which stands for a compound or substance. It is primarily used in the fields of biology and medicine. Haematosine is a dark red, iron-containing pigment found in the blood of certain invertebrates, particularly arthropods. It is most commonly present in the respiratory systems of these organisms, where it plays a crucial role in oxygen transport.
This pigment closely resembles haemoglobin, the respiratory pigment found in higher vertebrates. Haematosine has a similar function to haemoglobin as it binds to oxygen molecules and drastically enhances the amount of oxygen that can be carried by the blood. This enables these organisms to efficiently extract oxygen from their environment, facilitating respiration and normal physiological activities.
Due to its iron content, haematosine imparts a reddish color to the blood of these invertebrates. It undergoes reversible changes in oxidation state as oxygen binds and dissociates from it. This means that when oxygenated, haematosine displays a bright red color, while in its deoxygenated state it appears a darker shade of red.
The study of haematosine is important for understanding the physiology and respiration of various invertebrate species. It has also been utilized in research related to the development of artificial respiratory pigments for medical use or in technological applications.
Same as hoematin.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.