The pigment present in human blood is hemoglobin.
What is Hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells (RBCs). It's responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returning carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. This vital process is essential for life. The amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin affects the blood's color; bright red when oxygenated, and darker red when deoxygenated.
- Oxygen transport: Hemoglobin's primary function is to bind to and transport oxygen.
- Carbon dioxide transport: It also plays a role in transporting carbon dioxide.
- Color: The presence of hemoglobin is what gives blood its characteristic red color.
Several sources confirm this:
- NCBI: The National Center for Biotechnology Information (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2263/) states that hemoglobin is the pigment that gives red blood cells their color and facilitates oxygen transport.
- Wikipedia: The Wikipedia entry on Hemoglobin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemoglobin) details its role in oxygen and carbon dioxide transport, confirming its status as a blood pigment.
- Reference provided: The provided reference explicitly states that hemoglobin is the pigment present in human blood.
It's important to note that while other pigments may be found in the blood, or affecting blood components, hemoglobin is the primary pigment responsible for the blood's color and its oxygen-carrying capacity.
