The liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are accessory organs to the digestive system. |
Pancreas | The pancreas secretes a juice through a tube (the pancreatic duct) into the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). This juice contains many enzymes, including amylase, which breaks down starch; enzymes that break apart protein; and enzymes that break apart fats. The juice also contains basic (high pH) substances that neutralize the acid in chyme and prevent it from hurting the intestine. |
Liver | The liver makes a substance called bile. Bile contains substances that break large fat drops apart into smaller drops so they can be broken down into smaller pieces by the enzymes in the pancreatic juice. |
Gallbladder | The gallbladder stores the bile from the liver until it is ready to be released. When it is released, it enters the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) through a tube called the bile duct. |
Although they are not part of the digestive tract, the accessory organs play very important roles in the digestive system. See if you can complete each sentence below by dragging the correct word or letter to the blank space.
Click here to begin.
The organ labeled secretes enzymes that break down starches, fats, and proteins into the first part of the small intestine.
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A
B
C
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Correct!
This organ also makes substances that are basic (low in pH) in order to neutralize the acidic chyme coming from the stomach.
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The organ labeled A makes , which is a substance that breaks fat drops into smaller droplets.
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bile
amylase
pancreas
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Correct!
Sorry, but that is not correct.
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Complete
Question
Some people have their gallbladders removed, and live quite normal lives. What change in diet might they have to make in order to stay healthy?
People who've had their gallbladder removed often must watch the amount of fat they eat in their diet. This is because the gallbladder stores bile, which is necessary in the digestion of fat.