Icterus: Difference between revisions
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==Description== | ==Description== | ||
[[File:Jaundiced cat.jpg]] | [[File:Jaundiced cat.jpg|thumb|right|Image of a jaundiced cat, note the discoloured pinnae<br>Copyright Sabar 2007]] | ||
Icterus refers to the staining of tissues by bilirubin pigment or bilirubin complexes. Bile pigments such as bilirubin have particular affinity for elastic tissues and the typical yellow/orange colour of icterus is therefore evident in the slcera and mucous membranes in life and in the tunica intima of the aorta at post mortem examination. | Icterus refers to the staining of tissues by bilirubin pigment or bilirubin complexes. Bile pigments such as bilirubin have particular affinity for elastic tissues and the typical yellow/orange colour of icterus is therefore evident in the slcera and mucous membranes in life and in the tunica intima of the aorta at post mortem examination. | ||