ceruloplasmin

1 9.9

A blue blood protein that carries copper and helps control iron levels

noun
/səˌruːləˈplæzmɪn/

Specialized

: ceruloplasmina

Low levels of ceruloplasmin in the blood can indicate certain metabolic disorders.

Examples

Ceruloplasmin is essential for transporting ceruloplasmin and regulating iron levels in the human body.
High ceruloplasmin can indicate health issues.
Doctors often test ceruloplasmin to help diagnose Wilson's disease, a rare genetic condition.
The blue color of ceruloplasmin is due to its copper content.
The ceruloplasmin level is important.
A deficiency in ceruloplasmin can lead to disorders involving disrupted iron metabolism.
Doctors measure ceruloplasmin levels to diagnose conditions related to copper and iron balance.

Surface Forms

ceruloplasmin singular

ceruloplasmins plural

Morphology

ceruloplasmin = cerulo + plasmin

The components 'cerulo' and 'plasmin' are not standalone English words and the meaning is specialized and not derivable from the components.

Etymology

Ceruloplasmin comes from parts that mean 'blue' and 'plasma'. The cerulo- part comes from Latin caeruleus, meaning 'blue' and the same root as the color word cerulean, and the -plasmin part is like plasma, the 'liquid part of blood'. So the name points to a 'blue protein in the blood', which fits its role as a copper-containing protein that helps control iron and copper.