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).