What does the liver primarily do in relation to digestion?

The liver primarily plays a crucial role in digestion by producing bile. Bile is a digestive fluid that is essential for the emulsification and breakdown of fats in the small intestine. After being produced in the liver, bile is stored in the gallbladder until it is needed for digestion. When food containing fats enters the small intestine, bile is released into the digestive tract to help facilitate the digestion and absorption of these fats.

Bile also contains substances that aid in the digestion of lipids and help eliminate waste products from the body, but its primary function in relation to digestion is assisting in fat emulsification. Understanding the liver's role in bile production is fundamental to appreciating how the digestive system manages the breakdown of nutrients and the absorption of fats.