Bilirubin is a yellow compound that occurs in the normal catabolic pathway that breaks down heme in vertebrates.
Bilirubin is excreted in bile and urine, and elevated levels may indicate certain diseases. It is responsible for the yellow color of bruises and the yellow discoloration in jaundice. Its subsequent breakdown products, such as stercobilin, cause the brown color of feces. A different breakdown product, urobilin, is the main component of the straw-yellow color in urine.
Infant jaundice is a yellow discoloration in a newborn baby’s skin and eyes. Infant jaundice occurs because the baby’s blood contains an excess of bilirubin
Infant jaundice is a common condition, particularly in babies born before 38 weeks gestation (preterm babies) and some breast-fed babies. Infant jaundice usually occurs because a baby’s liver isn’t mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. In some cases, an underlying disease may cause jaundice.
Bilirubin. (2016, August 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:10, August 30, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bilirubin&oldid=736815652