Final answer:
Unconjugated bilirubin is carried in the blood by binding to albumin. In the liver, bilirubin is separated from albumin, conjugated to become water-soluble, and then excreted into the bile for elimination from the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unconjugated bilirubin is separated from albumin as it arrives at the liver. Albumin transports unconjugated bilirubin through the bloodstream because bilirubin is not water-soluble. In the liver, bilirubin dissociates from albumin and is taken up by hepatocytes. Here, the enzyme UDP glucuronyl transferase conjugates bilirubin with glucuronic acid, forming bilirubin diglucuronide, which is water-soluble.
This allows for the bilirubin to be excreted into the intestine through bile. When bilirubin is not adequately removed from the bloodstream due to various conditions such as neonatal jaundice or liver damage, it can result in hyperbilirubinemia.