Which statement about the liver’s production is true?

Which statement about the liver’s production is true?

• A. The liver produces bile
• B. The liver absorbs water
• C. The liver stores insulin
• D. The liver digests fats directly

Answer: (A)

The liver’s production function highlighted here is bile. Hepatocytes constantly synthesize bile, which travels through the biliary ducts to be stored in the gallbladder or released into the small intestine as needed. Bile isn’t an enzyme; it’s a detergent-like substance that emulsifies fats, increasing their surface area so pancreatic enzymes can digest them more effectively. This is what makes the statement that the liver produces bile true. The other statements don’t fit because water absorption occurs mainly in the intestines, not the liver; insulin is produced by the pancreas (the liver can store glycogen, but not insulin); and fats are not directly digested by the liver—the emulsification by bile in the intestine aids the digestion performed by intestinal and pancreatic enzymes.

The liver’s production function highlighted here is bile. Hepatocytes constantly synthesize bile, which travels through the biliary ducts to be stored in the gallbladder or released into the small intestine as needed. Bile isn’t an enzyme; it’s a detergent-like substance that emulsifies fats, increasing their surface area so pancreatic enzymes can digest them more effectively. This is what makes the statement that the liver produces bile true.

The other statements don’t fit because water absorption occurs mainly in the intestines, not the liver; insulin is produced by the pancreas (the liver can store glycogen, but not insulin); and fats are not directly digested by the liver—the emulsification by bile in the intestine aids the digestion performed by intestinal and pancreatic enzymes.