key term - Jaundice

Definition

Jaundice is a medical condition characterized by the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, caused by an increase in bilirubin levels in the blood. This condition often indicates issues related to erythrocyte breakdown, liver dysfunction, or bile duct obstruction.

Related terms

Erythrocytes:

Red blood cells that transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body and return carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs for exhalation.

Bilirubin:

A yellow compound that occurs in the normal catabolic pathway that breaks down heme in erythrocytes, eventually excreted in bile and urine.

Liver:

A vital organ responsible for filtering blood coming from the digestive tract before passing it to the rest of the body, detoxifying chemicals, metabolizing drugs, and breaking down damaged or old erythrocytes