Question

A young infant may be feeding entirely on mother's milk which is white in colour but the stools on which the infant passes out are quite yellowish. what is this yellow colour due to?

• A. intestinal juice
• B. pancreatic juice poured into the duodenum
• C. undigested milk protein casein
• D. bile pigments passed through bile juice

Answer 1

The correct option is D

bile pigments passed through bile juice

The correct option is D.

Explanation of correct option:

1. Mother's milk comprises fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, and water.
2. The hepatic cells secrete bile which passes through the hepatic duct and remains stored in the gall bladder.
3. Bile plays a vital role in the digestion of fat; it breaks down fat molecules into fatty acids.
4. Bile comprises bile pigments (bilirubin and biliverdin), bile salts, phospholipids, and cholesterol.
5. Bile pigments are responsible for the yellow color of the stool. Hence, a young infant feeding entirely on mother's milk passes yellowish stools.

Explanation of incorrect option:

Option A:

1. Intestinal juice or succus entericus contains various enzymes such as dipeptidases, lipases, maltase, etc.
2. These enzymes aid the digestion process.

Option B:

1. Pancreatic juice poured into the duodenum contains digestive enzymes like trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, carboxypeptidases, lipases, amylases, etc.
2. These enzymes facilitate the digestion of proteins, fats, and lipids.

Option C:

1. Casein is a milk protein that is responsible for the white color of milk.
2. Casein forms clots in the stomach; hence it is digested slowly.

Final answer: A young infant feeding entirely on mother's milk passes yellowish stools. This yellow color is due to bile pigments passed through bile juice.