The liver secretes bile, a crucial digestive fluid.
Bile: The Liver's Main Secretion
Bile is a complex fluid vital for digestion and the body's overall health. It's not just a single substance, but a mixture of several components:
- Bile salts: These emulsify fats, breaking them down into smaller droplets for easier digestion and absorption.
- Phospholipids: These contribute to bile's fluidity and help in fat emulsification.
- Cholesterol: A component of bile, although excess cholesterol can lead to gallstones.
- Conjugated bilirubin: A byproduct of red blood cell breakdown; its presence in bile contributes to its characteristic color.
- Electrolytes: Various salts help maintain bile's proper pH and osmotic balance.
- Water: Forms the bulk of bile, acting as a solvent for other components.
The liver produces bile continuously, and it flows through a network of ducts within the liver before reaching the common hepatic duct, which ultimately leads to the gallbladder (for storage) and the small intestine (for use in digestion).
[1] Note: The provided reference states that bile is "produced and secreted by the liver." This answer reflects that information directly.
