BILIARY SECRETION Meaning and
Definition
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Biliary secretion refers to the process by which the liver produces and releases bile into the small intestine. Bile, a digestive fluid, is a yellowish-green liquid that aids in the digestion and absorption of fats. The liver, a vital organ located in the upper right side of the abdomen, is responsible for the production and secretion of bile.
Biliary secretion involves a complex process that starts in the liver. Hepatocytes, the cells of the liver, synthesize bile by extracting bile salts and other waste products from the blood. These waste products include bilirubin (a yellow pigment derived from the breakdown of red blood cells), cholesterol, and various other substances.
The bile is then transported through a network of small ducts within the liver known as bile canaliculi, where it undergoes further modification. It becomes more concentrated and undergoes changes in its composition through the addition of other substances, including bile salts, phospholipids, and water.
From the bile canaliculi, the bile flows into larger ducts known as bile ducts, which lead out of the liver. The common bile duct carries the bile to the small intestine, specifically the duodenum, where it is released to aid in the digestion of fats. Bile not only assists in the breakdown of fat globules into smaller droplets, but it also helps in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
In summary, biliary secretion is the process of liver cells producing bile, which is subsequently transported and released into the small intestine for the digestion and absorption of fats.
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(1) The bile; (2) the secretion of bile.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for BILIARY SECRETION
- b iliary secretion
- bi liary secretion
- bil iary secretion
- bili ary secretion
- bilia ry secretion
- biliar y secretion
- biliary s ecretion
- biliary se cretion
- biliary sec retion
- biliary secr etion
- biliary secre tion
- biliary secret ion
- biliary secreti on
- biliary secretio n
Etymology of BILIARY SECRETION
The word "biliary" originates from the Latin word "bilis", meaning "bile", and "ary" which is a suffix indicating "related to". Bile refers to the fluid secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, which aids in digestion.
The word "secretion" comes from the Latin word "secretio", which means "to separate" or "to secrete". It refers to the process of releasing substances from cells or glands.
So, the term "biliary secretion" combines the Latin word for bile with the term for the process of releasing or secreting, indicating the fluid that is released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder.
