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Jaundice

Jaundice

Jaundice, or icterus, is the yellow discoloration of the skin, sclerae, and mucous membranes. It happens when plasma bilirubin levels rise above 2.5-3 mg/dL, leading to bilirubin deposition in tissue.Bilirubin is a byproduct of hemoglobin degradation. In macrophages, hemoglobin breaks down into globin and heme. Globin is converted into amino acids, while heme is turned into biliverdin by heme oxygenase, which is then reduced to unconjugated bilirubin by biliverdin reductase.Unconjugated...

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...

Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder

Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder

Liver and gallbladder diseases are a significant health concern, with prominent conditions including cirrhosis, hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and gallstones. Jaundice is a common manifestation of liver and biliary disease.
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Cholecystitis

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Bioluminescence Imaging of Heme Oxygenase-1 Upregulation in the Gua Sha Procedure

Bioluminescence Imaging of Heme Oxygenase-1 Upregulation in the Gua Sha Procedure

Published on: August 28, 2009

Jaundice in the Hippocratic Corpus.

Niki Papavramidou¹, Elizabeth Fee, Helen Christopoulou-Aletra

¹History of Medicine Division, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 356, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece. papavramidou@hotmail.com

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery : Official Journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract

|September 27, 2007

Summary

Ancient Greek physicians, the Hippocratics, were pioneers in describing jaundice (icterus). Their detailed observations on its causes, symptoms, and treatments, based on humoral imbalance, laid early foundations for understanding liver conditions.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Bioluminescence Imaging of Heme Oxygenase-1 Upregulation in the Gua Sha Procedure

Bioluminescence Imaging of Heme Oxygenase-1 Upregulation in the Gua Sha Procedure

Published on: August 28, 2009

Area of Science:

Medical History
Hellenistic Medicine
Ancient Physiology

Background:

The Hippocratic Corpus extensively documents jaundice (icterus), detailing its clinical presentation and management strategies.
Hippocratic physicians established early connections between liver function and jaundice, despite limitations in anatomical knowledge.

Observation:

Hippocratic physicians identified five distinct types of jaundice.
Diagnosis and prognosis relied on observable signs like skin and urine color, season, and concurrent illnesses.
Etiology was primarily attributed to humoral imbalances, a core concept in Hippocratic medicine.

Findings:

Treatment modalities included herbal remedies, hydrotherapy, dietary adjustments, and bloodletting, tailored to specific jaundice types.
The study correlates historical Hippocratic jaundice classifications with modern medical diagnoses.

Implications:

This research highlights the observational acuity of ancient physicians in characterizing complex medical conditions.
Understanding Hippocratic jaundice descriptions offers insights into the evolution of hepatology and diagnostic practices.