What is the function of bile in the digestive system?

Bile plays a crucial role in the digestive system, specifically in the digestion of fats. It is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, and its primary function is to emulsify fats. Emulsification is the process of breaking down large fat globules into smaller droplets, which increases the surface area available for digestive enzymes to work on. This is essential because enzymes that digest fats, such as lipases, can only act on the surface of fat droplets. By emulsifying fats, bile makes it easier for these enzymes to effectively break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol, which can then be absorbed by the intestine.

While bile does have other effects, such as helping to neutralize stomach acid and contributing to the excretion of waste products, its primary and most critical function in digestion is to emulsify fats for easier digestion.