|  | Diet Nutrition | Nutrition

What Role Does the Liver Play in the Digestive Process?

Our bodies require energy to function properly, and we get energy by digesting food. The liver plays an important role by assisting our stomach and small intestine in the digestion of fats and lipids.

  1. Liver Features

    • The liver is the largest gland in the body, weighing roughly 3 lbs. in the average adult. It is located in the right side of the body--beneath the diaphragm--and is protected mainly by the rib cage.

    Liver Function

    • The liver's main functions include blood detoxification and the regulation of glycogen metabolism, but it also produces bile. This liquid is made up of salts, pigments, cholesterol, fats and phospholipids. Bile is stored in the gallbladder until needed.

    Bile

    • Bile aids in the digestion of dietary fats by breaking down (emulsifying) large fat globs in the small intestine into countless smaller droplets. Fat-digesting enzymes work more efficiently when bile is present.

    Bile Duct Blockage

    • Anytime the bile duct between the gallbladder and the small intestine is obstructed, fat digestion is heavily disrupted. In addition, bile pigments are absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in a buildup known as jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin.

    Cholesterol Correlation

    • Excess cholesterol can be excreted from the body through the use of bile, but if cholesterol levels are too high, it will fall out of solution in the gallbladder to form gallstones. Gallstones result in the painful obstruction of the bile duct.

Nutrition - Related Articles