NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Foundational Knowledge and Basic ScienceEasy
A medical assistant is reviewing a patient's laboratory results. The report indicates an elevated level of bilirubin, which is often associated with the dysfunction of which organ?
- AKidneys
- BLiver
- CPancreas
- DSpleen
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Liver
Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment formed from the breakdown of red blood cells. The liver processes bilirubin, and elevated levels typically indicate liver dysfunction or excessive red blood cell destruction.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The kidneys are primarily involved in filtering waste from the blood and producing urine, not processing bilirubin.
- C. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin, but does not directly process bilirubin.
- D. The spleen filters blood and removes old red blood cells, contributing to bilirubin production, but the liver is responsible for its processing.
Bilirubin and Liver Function
Bilirubin is a yellow pigment formed from the breakdown of red blood cells. The liver is crucial for processing and excreting bilirubin.
- Elevated bilirubin often indicates liver dysfunction.
- Processed in the liver, excreted in bile.
- High levels can cause jaundice.
Memory trick: Broken Red Cells Lead to Yellow Liver