Final answer:
The liver's primary function in the digestive system is to produce bile, which breaks down fats, neutralizes stomach acid entering the small intestine, and helps detoxify the blood. It also processes nutrients and synthesizes essential proteins. The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile, aiding the liver in fat digestion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The liver is the largest internal organ and plays an essential role in digestion, particularly in the metabolism of fats. Its main digestive function is the production of bile, which is integral for the digestion of fats and helps to neutralize the acidic chyme entering the duodenum from the stomach. The liver also acts in detoxifying blood, breaking down toxins like alcohol and medications through a process known as drug metabolism. This process can result in the formation of more toxic substances when metabolites are more hazardous than their precursors. Additionally, the liver processes vitamins and fatty acids and synthesizes many plasma proteins.
Bile, produced by the liver, breaks down large globules of lipids into smaller ones—a process termed emulsification—which facilitates easier chemical digestion by enzymes. Furthermore, bile helps to create a less acidic environment in the small intestine, necessary for the proper functioning of digestive enzymes. The gallbladder aids the liver by storing and concentrating bile salts, releasing them when needed.