Salivary Glands: The salivary glands produce saliva and excrete amylase. Saliva helps lubricate the mouth and oropharynx. Saliva aids in the easy formation of a bolus, making it easier to swallow. Amylase aids in the break down of carbohydrates. The mouth is where the digestion of carbohydrates begins.
Gallbladder: The function of the gallbladder is to store and concentrate bile. Bile helps emulsify fats and neutralize acids.
Liver: The liver has many functions:
produce bile
detoxifies blood
stores some vitamins and iron
converts excess glucose to glycogen for storage
converts ammonia to urea
destroys old red blood cells, excretes bilirubin
produces cholesterol
produces certain proteins for plasma
regulation of blood levels amino acids
synthesizes albumin and clotting factors
Pancreas: The pancreas has two functions (exocrine and endocrine). The pancreas produces enzymes to breakdown proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids (exocrine). The pancreas secretes the hormones insulin to lowers blood sugar and glucagon to raise blood sugar (endocrine).
