billirubin, bile, jaundice

[rainashley]

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what is the billirubin? how does it play a role in jaundice? what is the situation with billirubin and the liver? what happens exactyl? and the gall bladder?
thanks

 

[RogueUnicorn]

bilirubin is bile pigment. it is the product of heme breakdown in the spleen, kupffer cells, etc. bilirubin hitches a ride with serum albumin, enters hepatocytes, where they are conjugated, and secreted into the gallbladder with the rest of bile. it is further metabolized in the gut. it's what makes your poo brown. a defect in the heme breakdown pathway leads to bilirubin buildup and jaundice.