The Chemistry of Bodily Fluids: Color and Composition

This lecture discusses the chemistry behind the colors of bodily fluids, focusing on blood, urine, and feces. It explains how hemoglobin in blood gives it a red color when oxygenated, and how it oxidizes to methaemoglobin, turning brown as it dries. The breakdown of hemoglobin leads to the formation of biliverdin and bilirubin, which contribute to the color of bile and bruises. The lecture also covers urine's yellow color due to urobilin, a product of bilirubin breakdown by intestinal microbes. Additionally, it addresses the brown color of feces, which is due to stercobilin, a product of urobilinogen reduction in the intestines. The instructor emphasizes the importance of organic chemistry in understanding these everyday compounds and their reactions, providing a comprehensive overview of the biochemical processes involved in bodily fluid coloration.