What are bile and bile ducts?
Bile is a yellow liquid that contains various chemicals and bile salts. Bile helps to digest food, particularly fatty foods.
Bile is made by cells in the liver. Liver cells pass out the bile into tiny tubes called bile ducts. There is a network of bile ducts throughout the liver. They join together (like the branches of a tree) to form the larger 'common bile duct'. Bile constantly drips down the tiny bile ducts, into the common bile duct, and into the duodenum (part of the gut - the first part of the small intestine).
The gallbladder lies under the liver. It is like a pouch that comes off the common bile duct, and fills with bile. It is like a reservoir that stores bile. The gallbladder squeezes when we eat. This empties the stored bile back into the common bile duct, and out into the duodenum.
Average rating:
Where to next?
-
What are bile and bile ducts?
-
What are the symptoms of PBC?
-
What causes PBC?
-
What does the liver do?
-
What is primary biliary cirrhosis?
-
What is the outlook (prognosis)?
-
What is the treatment for PBC?
-
Alcohol and liver disease
-
Aspirin: Possible risks and side-effects
-
Cirrhosis
-
Coping with cirrhosis of the liver
