bilirubin
(bil″ĭ-roo´bin)
a yellow to orange bile pigment produced by the breakdown of heme and reduction of biliverdin; it normally circulates in plasma and is taken up by liver cells and conjugated to form bilirubin diglucuronide, the water-soluble
pigment excreted in the bile.
conjugated bilirubin
, direct bilirubin
bilirubin that has been taken up by the liver cells and conjugated to form the water-soluble bilirubin diglucuronide.
indirect bilirubin
, unconjugated bilirubin
the lipid-soluble form of bilirubin that circulates in loose association with the plasma proteins.

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