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If you were telling a friend how the liver works, you might say all of the following except?

A. The liver's primary digestive function is to secrete bile, which emulsifies fats.
B. The liver's primary digestive function is to store bile, which emulsifies fats
C. the liver has eight surgical segments
D. The liver is the largest gland in the body

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The liver produces and secretes bile to emulsify fats and neutralize stomach acidity for digestion. The liver does not store bile; this is the role of the gallbladder. The liver is also the largest gland in the body and has eight surgical segments.

Step-by-step explanation:

When describing how the liver works, you would talk about its primary digestive function of producing and secreting bile, which emulsifies fats. This bile is essential in the digestion process as it breaks down large globules of lipids into smaller ones, making them easier for enzymes to chemically digest in the small intestine. Additionally, bile neutralizes acidity from food that comes from the stomach, providing an optimal environment for the digestive enzymes in the small intestine. It's important to note, however, that the liver does not store bile; this function belongs to the gallbladder, which stores, concentrates, and releases the bile. The liver does have eight surgical segments and is indeed the largest gland in the body.

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