How do the liver and pancreas differ from other digestive organs?

1 Answer
Nov 5, 2016

Liver and pancreas are accessory glands; not a part of gastro-intestinal tract.

Explanation:

In an early embryo, gut endoderm gives rise to three diverticula: one for liver and two for pancreas.

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Both the glands secrete alkaline digestive juice and these juices are delivered inside a part of small intestine (called duodenum), through a common opening.

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Digestion of fat can not take place without the emulsifying effect of bile salts present in bile, a secretion from liver. Dietary fat breaks down into microscopic globules (named micelle) inside duodenum, once it mixes with bile. Fat can now be digested easily by lipase enzyme secreted by pancreas.

http://study.com/academy/lesson/lipids-digestion-and-absorption.html

Digestion of fat is not possible by action of juices secreted from other digestive organs like salivary glands, stomach and small intestine.