Enterohepatic circulation
Enterohepatic Circulation
Enterohepatic circulation (pronunciation: en-ter-o-hep-at-ic cir-cu-la-tion) is a vital bodily process that involves the circulation of bile acids from the liver, where they are produced and secreted, to the small intestine, where they aid in the digestion of fats, and then back to the liver.
Etymology
The term "enterohepatic" is derived from the Greek words "enteron" meaning intestine, and "hepar" meaning liver. This reflects the process's cyclical nature between these two organs.
Process
The liver produces bile, which is then stored in the gallbladder. When food enters the small intestine, the gallbladder releases bile into the intestine to aid in the digestion of fats. The bile acids are then reabsorbed in the ileum, the last part of the small intestine, and returned to the liver via the portal vein. This process is known as enterohepatic recirculation.
Related Terms
- Bile acids: Steroid acids found predominantly in bile of mammals. In humans taurocholic acid, and glycocholic acid occur.
- Liver: A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates, involved in many metabolic processes.
- Gallbladder: The small sac-shaped organ beneath the liver, in which bile is stored after secretion by the liver and before release into the intestine.
- Small intestine: The part of the gastrointestinal tract between the stomach and the large intestine.
- Ileum: The third portion of the small intestine, between the jejunum and the cecum.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Enterohepatic circulation
- Wikipedia's article - Enterohepatic circulation
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