The liver is a remarkable organ. It is like a compact factory, performing a variety of seemingly unrelated tasks all at once.
The liver has an enormous reserve of function and a great capacity to regenerate itself, so it can stand a lot of abuse.
Worn-out red blood cells are broken down in the liver, their iron content stored for future use and the pigment excreted in the bile.
Bile acids are formed and are present in the bile, which enters the gut and is necessary for the proper digestion and absorption of fat.
The bile runs down two ducts, one from each lobe of the liver. These ducts join and then a small side channel leads to the gall bladder. This hollow organ lies tucked under the liver and stores and concentrates the bile.
The gallbladder contracts, usually under the stimulus of a fatty meal, and the concentrated bile flows back into the common bile duct and down to run into the duodenum or first part of the small bowel. At the point where it enters the duodenum, it is joined by a duct carrying digestive juices from the pancreas.
The liver has an enormous reserve of function and a great capacity to regenerate itself, so it can stand a lot of abuse.
Worn-out red blood cells are broken down in the liver, their iron content stored for future use and the pigment excreted in the bile.
Bile acids are formed and are present in the bile, which enters the gut and is necessary for the proper digestion and absorption of fat.
The bile runs down two ducts, one from each lobe of the liver. These ducts join and then a small side channel leads to the gall bladder. This hollow organ lies tucked under the liver and stores and concentrates the bile.
The gallbladder contracts, usually under the stimulus of a fatty meal, and the concentrated bile flows back into the common bile duct and down to run into the duodenum or first part of the small bowel. At the point where it enters the duodenum, it is joined by a duct carrying digestive juices from the pancreas.
