Liver

• The liver is the largest gland in the body and is located just below the diaphragm
• The liver consists of two lobes, a large right love and smaller left lobe
• Each lobe is made up of tiny lobules that in turn consist of liver cells
• The liver cells product bile that is transported away from the liver via the common hepatic duct
• The common hepatic duct forms a branch, the cystic duct, which transports bile to the gall bladder for storage
• Bile is stored in the gallbladder until it is needed by the small intestine
• Bile contains bile salts (bile acids) which emulsify fats so they can be digested more easily
• The common hepatic duct and the cystic ducts join to form the common bile duct
• The common bile duct joins the pancreatic duct to open into the duodenum