Liver and Bile role in digestion

Liver and Bile role in digestion

• Liver is the largest gland in the body and has number of important functions-
  1. Secretion of bile
  2. Formation and storage of glycogen 
  3. Regulation of glucose level in the systemic circulation.
  4. Deamination of NH₃ and formation of urea.
  5. Destruction of uric acid
  6. Synthesis of fatty acids from carbohydrates and proteins.
  7. Phosphorylation of fats, introversion of fatty acids, partial oxidation of fatty acids and formation of ketone bodies.
  8. Detoxification of poisonous substances brought to it by blood. 
  9. Destruction of old erythrocytes 
  10. Storage and distribution of anti – pernicious anemia factors
  11. Formation of fibrinogen and other plasma factors.
  12. Formation of prothrombin
  13. Destruction of estrogen.
  14. Metabolism of hormones.

Secretion of bile

Secretion of bile as a source of bile acids which is necessary for fat digestion and absorption in the jejunum. Bile pigments provides the excretory route for certain endogenous metabolites and drugs. Additional buffer to neutralize H⁺ ions in the proximal duodenum.

Gall Bladder

Gall bladder is a storage organ of the bile for continuous secretion of bile. The walls of the gall bladder secrete mucin and absorb H₂O from the bile in order to concentrate the  bile. 

The horses, rat, deer, elk, moose, giraffe, camel, elephant and pigeon do not possess a gall bladder. Removal of the gall bladder, does not result in any great physiological disturbance.

Bile

Bile is both a secretive and an excretive substances. It plays an important role in the solubilization and absorption of fat.