Which term is used to describe yellow discoloration of the skin or sclera due to bilirubin buildup?

Which term is used to describe yellow discoloration of the skin or sclera due to bilirubin buildup?

• A. Inferior
• B. Melena
• C. Nystagmus
• D. Icteric

Answer: (D)

When bilirubin accumulates in the body, tissues take on a yellow tint known as jaundice. The term used to describe this specific yellow discoloration of the skin or sclera is icteric. This descriptor communicates that the yellow hue comes from bilirubin buildup, which can occur with liver dysfunction, increased red blood cell breakdown, or bile flow obstruction. Other options refer to unrelated signs—inferior means lower, melena is dark, tarry stool from GI bleeding, and nystagmus is involuntary eye movement—so they don’t describe the yellow coloration that bilirubin causes.

When bilirubin accumulates in the body, tissues take on a yellow tint known as jaundice. The term used to describe this specific yellow discoloration of the skin or sclera is icteric. This descriptor communicates that the yellow hue comes from bilirubin buildup, which can occur with liver dysfunction, increased red blood cell breakdown, or bile flow obstruction. Other options refer to unrelated signs—inferior means lower, melena is dark, tarry stool from GI bleeding, and nystagmus is involuntary eye movement—so they don’t describe the yellow coloration that bilirubin causes.