When defective erythrocytes are broken down,
A) they are removed from the blood by the lungs.
B) bilirubin is formed from the breakdown of hemoglobin.
C) their heme groups are converted into amino acids.
D) their iron is excreted into the small intestine.
E) their components cannot be recycled.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bilirubin is a yellow compound that occurs in the normal catabolic pathway that breaks down heme in vertebrates. This catabolism is a necessary process in the body's clearance of waste products that arise from the destruction of aged or abnormal red blood cells.

When Defective Erythrocytes Are Broken Down