Unconjugated bilirubin anatomy question

[Pinkleton]

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What blood vessel takes unconjugated bilirubin to the liver for conjugation? FA says macrophages release the unconjugated bilirubin, but where exactly? I assume that since most of this occurs in the spleen, it would be into the splenic artery and hence the portal vein? Maybe during hemolytic anemia it would be via the hepatic artery?

 

[Jamiu22]

Wikipedia

In the liver bilirubin is conjugated with glucuronic acid by the enzyme glucuronyltransferase, making it soluble in water. Much of it goes into the bile and thus out into the small intestine. However 95% of the secreted bile is reabsorbed by the small intestine. This bile is then resecreted by the liver into the small intestine. This process is known as enterohepatic circulation.

Hence, anything that takes blood to the liver.. would aid in conjugation...

 

[Apoplexy__]

I'd say splenic vein --> portal vein --> liver

It wouldn't be hepatic artery because if you're talking about intravascular hemolysis, that would be raw hemoglobin (or hemosiderin complexes) in the blood and not unconjugated bilirubin.

 

[SLC]

What blood vessel takes unconjugated bilirubin to the liver for conjugation? FA says macrophages release the unconjugated bilirubin, but where exactly? I assume that since most of this occurs in the spleen, it would be into the splenic artery and hence the portal vein? Maybe during hemolytic anemia it would be via the hepatic artery?

Splenic artery goes into the spleen, splenic vein comes out. Hopefully that was just a typo 😉

Anything coming out of the spleen (including unconjugated bilirubin) goes out through the splenic vein, into the portal vein, and through the liver.

SLC