Ferritin

Definition

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron within the cells of the body, releasing it in a controlled fashion. It plays a critical role in regulating iron levels in the blood, essential for erythrocyte (red blood cell) production.

Related terms

Hemoglobin:

A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.

Erythropoiesis:

The process by which new red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, requiring adequate iron levels facilitated by ferritin.

Iron deficiency anemia: A condition characterized by a lack of healthy red blood cells due to insufficient iron, highlighting the importance of ferritin in managing iron storage and availability for erythrocyte production