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Multiple Choice

What mineral is stored in the liver as a complex called ferritin?

Iron is stored in the liver as ferritin, a protein shell that safely holds iron in its ferric form (Fe3+). This ferritin-bound iron serves as a readily available reserve, mainly in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, so the body can release iron when needed and transport it via transferrin. When iron stores are excessive, some iron is stored as hemosiderin, but ferritin is the typical storage form. Calcium is kept largely in bone as hydroxyapatite, zinc is stored in various tissues bound to proteins, and copper is mainly stored in the liver tied to ceruloplasmin and copper-dependent enzymes.

Iron is stored in the liver as ferritin, a protein shell that safely holds iron in its ferric form (Fe3+). This ferritin-bound iron serves as a readily available reserve, mainly in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, so the body can release iron when needed and transport it via transferrin. When iron stores are excessive, some iron is stored as hemosiderin, but ferritin is the typical storage form. Calcium is kept largely in bone as hydroxyapatite, zinc is stored in various tissues bound to proteins, and copper is mainly stored in the liver tied to ceruloplasmin and copper-dependent enzymes.