Final answer:
Unconjugated bilirubin is indeed removed from the blood by the liver, where it is conjugated and made water-soluble for excretion through the bile and ultimately feces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that unconjugated bilirubin is removed from the blood by the liver is true. Bilirubin, a byproduct of heme catabolism from red blood cells, is initially found in an unconjugated form, which is not water-soluble. As such, it cannot be directly excreted from the body. To be excreted, unconjugated bilirubin must be transported to the liver. Here, it is conjugated via an enzyme called UDP glucuronyl transferase, to form bilirubin monoglucuronide or bilirubin diglucuronide which are both conjugated forms of bilirubin and are water-soluble. This conjugation allows bilirubin to be excreted effectively through the bile into the intestine, where it is further processed and eventually excreted in feces.
In the liver, bilirubin is processed to avoid the toxic effects of its accumulation. This is highlighted when liver function is compromised, as in the case of hepatic jaundice, resulting in elevated levels of both conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin in the blood. This processing of bilirubin by the liver is essential for the detoxification of the blood and the normal excretion of bile pigments.