The liver does not secrete enzymes; instead, it secretes bile.
Bile, produced by the liver, plays a crucial role in digestion by emulsifying fats, which aids in their breakdown and absorption. According to the provided reference, bile contains no enzymes, but it does contain bile pigments and salts. Bile is released into the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) via the bile duct. When there is no food in the stomach requiring digestion, bile is stored in the gallbladder.
| Feature | Liver Secretion | Enzyme Content |
|---|---|---|
| Secretion | Bile | None |
| Main Purpose | Fat emulsification | N/A |
| Other Content | Bile pigments and salts | N/A |
| Storage | Gallbladder | N/A |
Therefore, despite the liver being a vital organ for digestion, it doesn't secrete digestive enzymes. The liver's main secretion, bile, functions to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats, but it does this through a different mechanism involving emulsification rather than enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
