different between porphyrin vs tetrapyrrole

English

From German Porphyrin, shortened from Hämatoporphyrin (“haematoporphyrin”).

porphyrin (plural porphyrins)

(organic chemistry) Any of a class of heterocyclic compounds containing pyrrole rings arranged in a square or other similar shape; they are important in biochemistry in a form with a metal atom in the central cavity (hemoglobin with iron, chlorophyll with magnesium, etc.).

tetra- +? pyrrole

tetrapyrrole (plural tetrapyrroles)

(biochemistry) any of several natural pigments having a structure of four pyrrole rings connected by a one-carbon unit

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