Bilirubin is excreted into which substance?

Study liver anatomy and function with our medical students test. Engage with detailed multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your test!

Bilirubin is eliminated from the body by excretion into bile. Here’s why: bilirubin arises from heme breakdown and, after being transported to the liver, is conjugated to become water-soluble. This conjugated bilirubin is then actively secreted into bile canaliculi and flows with the bile into the biliary tree, ultimately reaching the intestine. There it is modified and excreted in stool. While some conjugated bilirubin can appear in urine in certain disorders, normal excretion of bilirubin as a waste product is via bile, not urine or blood.