102 



ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY. 



abundant secretion, which amounts to about one and one- 

 half pints per day in an adult, it is surprising to learn that 

 until recently little was known as to the value of bile as it 

 mixes with food materials in the intestine. 



At least three uses for it are now recognized; of these the 

 most important is that it intensifies the action of pancreatic 

 juices about three-fold. Another function is the dissolving of 

 fatty acids and making them more absorbable; when its flow 

 is prevented, not only is fat only partially digested and 

 unabsorbed, but a fatty coating adheres to other kinds of 

 food and prevents digestive jui es having access to them, thus 

 letting them pass from the body unused. Bile also prevents 

 rapid growth of bacteria in the intestine with consequent 

 putrefaction and gas formation, though by itself it deteriorates 

 easily. 



Other important functions of the liver will be pointed out 

 in their proper connections later. 



The Pancreas and its Functions. Unlike 

 bile, the fluid secreted by the pancreas 

 plays a necessary part in the digestive 

 process. As can be seen from Figure 48, a 

 duct from the pancreas joins the common 

 bile duct just before the latter enters the 

 intestine. 



The pancreas is what the butcher calls 

 the "sweetbread." In the human being 

 it is about seven inches long by one and a 

 half broad, and one-half inch thick; not 

 a very large organ but of great impor- 

 tance. It is spongy in texture, and lies, 

 attached loosely, along the lower curved 

 border of the stomach. Its structure, as 

 shown in Figure 55, is very like that of the salivary glands. 

 The liquid output of its cells amounts to about one and one- 

 half pints a day, and is clear and watery in appearance. 2c. 



FIG. 55. A HIGHLY 



MAGNIFIED VIEW 

 OF A BIT OF THE 

 PANCREAS SHOW- 

 ING ALVEOLI 



(Maziarski) 



