Accessory Organs in Digestion: The Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder

Definition

Accessory organs in digestion, including the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder, are not directly part of the digestive tract but contribute significantly to the digestion process by producing and secreting enzymes, bile, and other substances. These organs work in concert to break down food into nutrients that can be absorbed by the body.

Related terms

Bile: A greenish fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that helps digest fats.

Enzymes: Biological molecules typically proteins that significantly speed up the rate of virtually all of the chemical reactions that take place within cells.

Absorption: The process by which nutrient molecules pass through the wall of the digestive system into the blood