Jaundice, a symptom of liver inflammation, primarily affects which part of the body?

Jaundice is primarily characterized by a yellowing of the skin and the sclera (the whites of the eyes). This phenomenon occurs when there is an accumulation of bilirubin, a byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells, in the bloodstream. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its ability to process and excrete bilirubin effectively is compromised, leading to higher levels in the body, which subsequently manifest as the yellow discoloration seen in jaundice.

While the liver itself is the organ responsible for filtering and processing bilirubin, jaundice is specifically observed in the skin and eyes due to the way bilirubin coats the tissues providing that distinct yellow color. Thus, the correct answer reflects the clinical manifestation of jaundice rather than the underlying condition in the liver.