Final answer:
Bile is a yellow or orange liquid produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and used to digest fats and neutralize stomach acid in the small intestine. It contains bile salts, which are synthesized from cholesterol and help emulsify lipids, aiding their absorption.
Step-by-step explanation:
The clear, yellow or orange liquid produced by the liver, concentrated and stored in the gallbladder, and used in the digestive system is known as bile. This substance is crucial for the digestion and absorption of fats and also serves to neutralize stomach acid as it enters the small intestine.
Bile is a complex fluid containing bile salts, which are critical for the emulsification of lipids. These bile salts are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver. When food, particularly fatty acids, enters the duodenum, bile is secreted from the gallbladder into the small intestine to aid in the digestive process. Interestingly, the liver also eliminates excess cholesterol through bile, which can sometimes lead to the formation of gallstones if cholesterol precipitates in the gallbladder.
The gallbladder itself is a small, sac-like organ located just below the liver where it stores and concentrates bile. Upon the intake of fatty foods, the gallbladder contracts, releasing bile through the cystic duct into the duodenum, facilitating the breakdown of lipid particles into a form more accessible for digestion by enzymes.