Final answer:
True, bilirubin is normally not found in the urine of a healthy adult. It is excreted by the liver into the bile, processed in the intestines, and eliminated in feces.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or false: In a healthy adult, bilirubin is negative in urine. The statement is true. Normally, bilirubin is not found in the urine because it is excreted by the liver into the bile and then eliminated in the feces. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced from the breakdown of hemoglobin in red blood cells.
The liver processes bilirubin and excretes it in bile, which is released into the intestines to help with digestion. In the large intestine, bacteria then convert bilirubin into urobilinogen and stercobilin, which is responsible for the brown color of feces.
However, in certain conditions, such as liver disease or bile duct obstruction, bilirubin can spill into the bloodstream and be excreted by the kidneys into the urine, causing a positive urine bilirubin. In a healthy adult, this should not occur, so the presence of bilirubin in the urine is usually indicative of a pathological process.