Which two organs are the major storage sites for iron in a normal ...

[wenmo]

Which two organs are the major storage sites for iron in a normal individual?
 
  a. Lymph nodes and muscle
  b. Bone marrow and pancreas
  c. Spleen and heart
  d. Liver and spleen

Question 2

The serum iron and TIBC results given in Question 10 are consistent with:
 
  a. Iron overload
  b. Iron toxicity
  c. Iron deficiency
  d. Acute infection

[tofugiraffe]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
The liver and spleen have a large amount of L (light) subunits of apoferritin, the protein that stores iron; they thus are major storage sites for iron. The L subunits more readily take up iron for storage than the H (heavy) subunits, which are more predominant in tissues where iron is not normally stored such as the heart.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
A percent saturation of 2 is consistent with severe iron deficiency. Iron overload and iron toxicity are situations in which the percent saturation would be high. In an acute infection, the anemia of chronic inflammation (also called anemia of chronic disease) might develop if the infection becomes chronic; percent saturation would be decreased below normal, but it would not become this low (and the infection would have to be fairly long-standing and chronic).