Final answer:
Jaundice is due to an increased concentration of bile pigments, especially bilirubin, in the blood, which can result from an overproduction, liver failure, or bile duct obstruction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jaundice, characterized by a yellowish tinge to the tissues, is primarily due to an increased blood concentration of bile pigments, notably bilirubin. This condition arises when bilirubin, a byproduct of hemoglobin breakdown from deceased red blood cells, accumulates in the blood. Normally, the liver processes bilirubin and excretes it through bile, but when the liver's capacity to remove bilirubin is exceeded or when there is an obstruction in the bile ducts, bilirubin leaks into the bloodstream and subsequently diffuses into the skin and mucous membranes, imparting a yellow color. In severe cases, such as with liver necrosis, jaundice can be deadly.
There are different types of jaundice: preheptatic (excessive hemolysis), hepatic (liver damage due to various causes including infections, alcohol, or toxic substances) and post-hepatic (obstruction in the bile ducts). Additionally, chronic idiopathic jaundice involves excess excretion of bile pigments in the urine due to an autosomal recessive disorder.