The liver digests food by producing bile to break down fats, removing toxins and breaking down and storing some vitamins and minerals. The pancreas produces enzymes to help break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The gall bladder stores the bile that is produced by the liver. When needed, bile passes into the small intestine, where it breaks down fat.
The liver is the largest gland in the body, weighing about 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) in an adult. The liver has many roles in the digestive system. For example, it:
The pancreas is located below the stomach. It produces a mix of enzymes that together are called pancreatic juice. This juice helps neutralize the very acidic chyme when it enters the small intestine. Pancreatic juice also helps us to digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
The gall bladder is a pouch-shaped organ that stores the bile produced by the liver. The gall bladder shares a vessel, called the common bile duct, with the liver. When bile is needed, it moves through the common bile duct into the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum. It is here that the bile breaks down fat.