Final answer:
Conjugated bilirubin can be excreted in bile, b) reabsorbed in the intestines, or converted to urobilinogen. The majority is further processed into stercobilin and excreted in faeces, while some can be reabsorbed or excreted in urine.
Step-by-step explanation:
After conjugation, conjugated bilirubin can take several paths:
- Excreted in bile into the intestine.
- Reabsorbed in the intestines and transported back to the liver.
- Converted to urobilinogen by the bacteria in the intestine.
Most (97%) of the bilirubin in the intestine is further converted into stercobilinogen, which is then transformed into stercobilin, providing the brown colour to faeces. The remainder (3%) is reabsorbed into the bloodstream; this can either be secreted directly into the urine as urobilin or transported back to the liver. Obstruction of the biliary tree can prevent the excretion of conjugated bilirubin, leading to its accumulation in the bloodstream and urine, a condition known as choluric jaundice.