Jaundice, also known as icterus (attributive adjective: "icteric"), is yellowish discoloration of the skin, sclera (whites of the eyes) and mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia (increased levels of bilirubin in the blood). This hyperbilirubinemia subsequently causes increased levels of bilirubin in the extracellular fluids. Typically, the concentration of bilirubin in the plasma must exceed 1.5 mg/dL , three times the usual value of approximately 0.5mg/dL , for the coloration to be easily visible. Jaundice comes from the French word jaune, meaning yellow.