QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
Haem is formed from the breakdown of haemoglobin into haem and globin. Globin is then broken down into amino acids, whilst haem is converted to iron and biliverdin via the enzyme haem oxygenase. Biliverdin is then reduced into unconjugated bilirubin. Unconjugated bilirubin is then transported to the liver where glucuronyl transferase adds glucuronic acid to the bilirubin to make it into conjugated bilirubin.
10025632
c
Conjugated bilirubin
QuestionChoice
Haem is formed from the breakdown of haemoglobin into haem and globin. Globin is then broken down into amino acids, whilst haem is converted to iron and biliverdin via the enzyme haem oxygenase. Biliverdin is then reduced into unconjugated bilirubin.
10025631
b
Unconjugated bilirubin
QuestionChoice
Haem is formed from the breakdown of haemoglobin into haem and globin. Globin is then broken down into amino acids, whilst haem is converted to iron and biliverdin via the enzyme haem oxygenase. Biliverdin is then reduced into unconjugated bilirubin. Unconjugated bilirubin is then transported to the liver where glucuronyl transferase adds glucuronic acid to the bilirubin to make it into conjugated bilirubin. This then travels into the colon, where bacteria deconjugate it into urobilinogen.
10025634
e
Urobilinogen
QuestionChoice
Haem is formed from the breakdown of haemoglobin into haem and globin. Globin is then broken down into amino acids, whilst haem is converted to iron and biliverdin via the enzyme haem oxygenase. Biliverdin is then reduced into unconjugated bilirubin. Unconjugated bilirubin is then transported to the liver where glucuronyl transferase adds glucuronic acid to the bilirubin to make it into conjugated bilirubin. This then travels into the colon, where bacteria deconjugate it into urobilinogen.

The majority of urobilinogen is oxidised by bacteria in the intestine to form stercobilin, prior to faecal excretion.
10025633
d
Stercobilin
QuestionChoice
Haem is formed from the breakdown of haemoglobin into haem and globin. Globin is then broken down into amino acids, whilst haem is converted to iron and biliverdin via the enzyme haem oxygenase. Biliverdin is therefore the first breakdown product to be formed of the options listed.
10025630
a
Biliverdin
Concept
Chapter
2693
4528
Bile structure, function and metabolism
Topic
149
Gastro-intestinal physiology
17524
A 38 year old man presents to the emergency department with a 3 day history of fever, right upper quadrant abdominal pain and yellowing of the skin. A clinician explains that this yellowing is known as jaundice, which is caused by a build-up of bilirubin in his blood.

Which of the following substances is initially produced from the breakdown of haem?
a