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| oesophagus | stomach | duodenum | small intestine | large intestine | salivary glands | pancreas | liver | ||
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Bile, a watery greenish fluid is produced by the liver and secreted via the hepatic duct and cystic duct to the gall bladder for storage, and thence on demand via the common bile duct to an opening near the pancreatic duct in the duodenum. It contains bile salts, bile pigments (mainly bilerubin, essentially the non-iron part of haemoglobin) cholesterol and phospholipids. Bile salts and phospholipds emulsify fats, the rest are just being excreted. Gallstones are usually cholesterol based, may block the hepatic or common bile ducts causing pain, jaundice. Liver Multifunctional: important in this context since the capillaries of the small intestine drain fat and other nutrient rich lymph into it via the hepatic portal system. |
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