Question #df05b
1 Answer
Apr 8, 2016
The liver makes bile, which allows fat to dissolve in the intestine and be digested easily.
Explanation:
The liver produces a substance called bile, which is then stored in the gallbladder before being secreted into the small intestine.
Fat is hydrophobic and doesn't mix with water in the intestines. This makes it form fat globules or lumps that don't easily digest because they are so compact.
Bile acts as an emulsifier. One half of it binds with fat (called the hydrophobic part) while the other binds with water (hydrophilic), which makes the fat dissolve in water by being physically joined to it.
The fat in solution is then easier to digest because it is less compact and has a greater overall surface area for the enzymes to act on.
