Final answer:
Icteric serum appears yellow or jaundiced. This is due to an accumulation of bilirubin, a degradation product of hemoglobin which is often associated with liver failure or jaundice. The buildup of bilirubin in the blood can also affect the color of other bodily fluids and wastes, such as giving feces a brown color or urine a yellow color.
Step-by-step explanation:
An icteric serum appears yellow or jaundiced. The term 'icteric' refers to the yellow coloration of the skin or tissues due to the accumulation of bilirubin, a product of hemoglobin degradation, which manifests as a result of conditions such as jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia. When the concentration of bilirubin increases beyond 2 mg/100 ml in the blood, it diffuses into the peripheral tissues making them look yellow. This occurs due to the liver's inability to effectively remove bilirubin from circulation during liver failure.
This collection of bilirubin can also accumulate in other parts of the body such as the skin and mucous membranes, further manifesting as the yellowing of these areas. Other byproducts of hemoglobin breakdown also affect the color of bodily fluids and waste, with stercobilins giving feces its brown color and urobilins accounting for the yellow color of urine.
Learn more about Icteric serum