Digestion and Absorption Question 42
42. A young infant may be feeding entirely on mothers milk which is white in colour but the stools which the infant passes out is quite yellowish. What is this yellow colour due to?
[2009]
(a) bile pigments passed through bile juice
(b) undigested milk protein casein
(c) pancreatic juice poured into duodenum
(d) intestinal juice
Show Answer
Answer : a
Hints & Solution
(a) Young infant may be feeding entirely on mother’s milk which is white in colour but the stools which the infant passes out is quite yellowish because of the bile pigments passed through bile juice. Bile pigments are any of several coloured compounds derived from porphyrin that are found in bile; principally bilirubin and biliverdin. Bile pigment is produced regularly when old red blood cells are broken down, mainly by the spleen. In some blood-disorders where the red cells are destroyed, more bile pigment is produced.
