GCSE Biology (AQA)

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The Liver & Bile

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Organisation Animal Tissues, Organs and Organ Systems

The Liver & Bile

2:00 Collision Theory and Rate of Reaction
Spec 4.2.2.1
Previous Rate of Chemical Reactions Next Blood Vessels
  • Bile is a greenish-yellow fluid produced by the liver.
  • The liver is indicated in a diagram, with the gallbladder shown just underneath it.
  • Bile is stored in the gallbladder and released into the top of the small intestine.
  • Bile's function includes breaking down fats into smaller droplets, a process known as emulsification.
  • Emulsification increases the surface area of fats, enhancing the breakdown rate by the enzyme lipase.
  • Bile is alkaline, helping to neutralize hydrochloric acid from the stomach.
  • The neutralization occurs at the top of the small intestine where bile mixes with stomach acid.
  • A pH scale illustration shows the acidic nature of stomach acid and the alkaline nature of bile.
  • The alkaline conditions created by bile increase the efficiency of lipase in fat breakdown.
  • The optimum pH for lipase activity is alkaline, which speeds up its function.

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