What Does the Liver Do?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
1. Production of Bile
The liver produces between 800 and 1000 milliliters of bile every day in an adult human. Bile is a fluid made up of water, electrolytes, bile acids, and many other organic molecules. After production in the liver, the bile makes its way to the gall bladder where it is concentrated and stored before release into the digestive system. This fluid plays two major roles. It contains salts, also called bile acids, which are needed during the breakdown and absorption of fats and fat-soluble nutrients in the small intestine. Secondly, bile aids in the elimination of waste products such as bilirubin, which are secreted into the bile and eliminated through feces.
