Hemoglobin catabolism

The reticuloendothelial system Bile Small Intestine

(liver,  spleen, bone marrow) Bilirubin Diglucoronide

Bilirubin Small part of
Small part of
Hemoglobin  from erythrocytes + Mesobilinogen
Glucuronic acid v. portae
Oxydation of CH2‐group Mesobilinogen
Glucuronosyltransferase
Verdoglobin Conugation
g reaction

‐Globin Bilirubin Large Intestine

Diglucoronide, Stercobilinogen
Small part of
Tripyrroles,
Verdohematine Stercobilinogen
Dipyrroles v. hemoroidalis Large part
‐Fe2+
Urine Stercobilin
Urobilin bodies: Feces (color)
Biliverdin ~400 mg p.d.
1. Mesobilinogen
2. Stercobilinogen
3. Stercobilin

Bilirubin Obstructive Jaundice
Yellow‐Red in color,  Blood ‐ Level of total bilirubin in blood is increased by conugated bilirubin.
Toxic, insoluble in water,  Feces  ‐ Color  is  weaken, Stercobiline in feces is absent.
Transported on albumin
Transported on albumin Urine ‐ High level of bilirubin in urine is detected, Test for urobilin bodies in urine is negative.
Skin itching
Hemolytic Jaundice (Hemolysis is intensified)
Blood ‐ Level of total bilirubin in blood is increased by unconjugated bilirubin.
Feces  ‐ Color  is  inhanced, Stercobilin level is  elevated.
Urine ‐ Bilirubin in urine is not detected, but urobilin bodies is detected as stercobilin.
Spleen size is increased.
Parenchymatous Jaundice
Blood ‐ Concentration of direct and undirect bilirubin is increased.
Feces  ‐ Color  is  weaken,  Stercobilin content is decreased.
Urine ‐ High level of bilirubin in urine is detected, test for urobilin bodies  in urine is positive,
urobilinouria because of mesobilinogen level increased.