myoglobin

[ mahy-uh-gloh-bin, mahy-uh-gloh- ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. hemoglobin of muscle, weighing less and carrying more oxygen and less carbon monoxide than blood hemoglobin.

myoglobin

/ ˌmaɪəʊˈɡləʊbɪn /

noun

1. a protein that is the main oxygen-carrier of muscle

myoglobin

/ mī′ə-glō′bĭn /

1. An iron-containing protein found in muscle fibers, consisting of heme connected to a single peptide chain that resembles one of the subunits of hemoglobin. Myoglobin combines with oxygen released by red blood cells and transfers it to the mitochondria of muscle cells, where it is used to produce energy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of myoglobin¹

First recorded in 1920–25; myo- + globin

Example Sentences

The high amount of myoglobin and subsequent oxygen in our muscle cells allows us to hold our breath for extended periods of time.

From Popular-Science

In fact, a high presence of myoglobin in the blood is a sign of extreme muscle injury, like rhabdomyolysis, which can be life-threatening.

From Popular-Science

On the other hand, muscles that need far more oxygen to work, like the ones in our limbs, have more myoglobin and therefore have a darker appearance.

From Popular-Science

The team created models of important proteins such as myoglobin.

From Science News For Students