We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Biology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Myoglobin?

By Nishnaz
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 43,964
Share

Myoglobin is a red, iron-containing pigment present in the muscle cells of animals. It is a water soluble, single chain globular protein formed of 153 amino acids, with an iron-containing prosthetic group in the center. Though it has a structure similar to that of hemoglobin, it shows a higher level of affinity to oxygen than hemoglobin does. The physiological importance of myoglobin is chiefly attributed to its oxygen binding ability.

Myoglobin is generally found in abundance in the cardiac muscles and skeletal muscles adapted to endurance activities. These high endurance muscles are called "red muscles." The myoglobin in these red muscles binds with oxygen molecules and forms oxymyoglobin, which act as the emergency oxygen storage sites for the body. The oxygen is generally released when the body is in a state of oxygen deprivation. This happens during strenuous exercise or physical exertion, when the oxygen supplied by the blood alone does not meet the demands of the body.

The distribution of red muscles is also high in diving mammals, like whales and dolphins. The higher level of myoglobin stored in these muscles enables these animals to store more oxygen so they can remain underwater for long periods. Myoglobin levels are found to be high in the muscles of water birds and penguins, too.

In humans, myoglobin is used as an important biochemical marker for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction or heart attack. It is found in abundance in the cardiac muscles, so any damage in the heart muscles releases large amounts of myoglobin into the blood stream. Myoglobin tests are, therefore, conducted in persons showing the symptoms of heart attack. Levels in the blood rise within 2 to 3 hours of a heart attack and reaches its peak within about 8 to 12 hours. It generally falls back to normal after about 24 hours of the injury, however, so it cannot be used for assessment in patients in whom the symptoms have been persisting for more than a day.

Severe damage to muscle tissues can lead to a condition called rhabdomyolisis, and can result in acute kidney failure. In large amounts, myoglobin can be toxic to the tubular epithelium of the kidney. It causes severe damage to the renal epithelium when the blood is filtered through them. This condition generally occurs to victims of acute physical injury, as in the case of earthquakes or bomb blasts.

Share
InfoBloom is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By SimpleByte — On Jan 29, 2014

@Ceptori, patients with degenerative muscle diseases like muscular dystrophy or inflammatory muscle diseases like myositis can also display elevated myoglobin levels.

By Ceptorbi — On Jan 28, 2014
@SimpleByte: That's good to know as I'm on statins. Would myoglobin levels be elevated for any other conditions besides heart attacks or muscle damage due to crushing injuries?
By SimpleByte — On Jan 28, 2014

Rhabdomyolisis can also occur in patients taking statins to control their cholesterol. Mild muscle pain is a common side effect of taking statins, but severe muscle pain can indicate rhabdomylosis. Other symptoms include muscle weakness and dark colored urine. The chance of these symptoms developing in patients taking statins increases when certain drugs like cyclosporine and gemfibrozil are taken along with the statins. Patients on statins who experience intense pain or other symptoms of rhabdomylosis should seek immediate medical attention.

Share
https://www.infobloom.com/what-is-myoglobin.htm
Copy this link
InfoBloom, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

InfoBloom, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.