epefolyadék

Epefolyadék, also known as bile, is a complex fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Its primary function is to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine. Bile is composed of bile salts, bile pigments (primarily bilirubin), cholesterol, electrolytes, and water.

The liver continuously produces bile, which then flows into the gallbladder for storage and concentration. When fatty foods are consumed, the gallbladder contracts, releasing bile into the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. Bile salts emulsify fats, breaking them down into smaller droplets, which increases the surface area for digestive enzymes, like lipases, to act upon. This emulsification is crucial for the efficient breakdown and absorption of dietary fats, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), and cholesterol.

Bilirubin, a waste product from the breakdown of red blood cells, is also a major component of bile. It gives bile its characteristic yellowish-green color and is eventually excreted from the body in feces.

Disruptions in bile flow, known as cholestasis, can lead to various health issues. These can be caused by conditions like gallstones, inflammation of the bile ducts (cholangitis), or liver diseases. Symptoms of impaired bile flow can include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes due to bilirubin buildup), itching, pale stools, and abdominal pain. The composition of bile can also be altered, predisposing individuals to the formation of gallstones, which are hardened deposits of cholesterol or bilirubin.