Describe the structure and function of the gallbladder and liver and state the role of bile in...
Question:
Describe the structure and function of the gallbladder and liver and state the role of bile in digestion.
Accessory Digestive Organs:
The accessory organs of the digestive system are those organs which are not part of the digestive tract but helps in the digestion of food by releasing emulsifier substance and enzymes. These organs are the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
Answer and Explanation: 1
The liver is a four-lobed organ that produces the substance called bile. This bile is then stored and concentrated in a small sac attached to the liver called the gallbladder. Upon the arrival of food in the small intestine, duodenal cells secrete the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) which stimulates the contraction of the gallbladder that causes the release of bile to the small intestine. Bile increases the efficiency of digestion of fats by converting them to smaller fat droplets, thus increasing their surface area and making enzymatic reactions easier.
Learn more about this topic:
from
Chapter 28 / Lesson 16What is bile? Learn the definition, components, and functions of bile. Learn how it helps in fat digestion and absorption, and its secretion and production.