Question

What is composite bile?

Answer 1

• Bile is a yellowish green alkaline solution with 89-90% water, no digestive enzymes but has four types of chemicals and non- digestive enzymes.

a) Inorganic salts :- Bicarbonates, chlorides, carbonates and phosphates of sodium, potassium and calcium.

b) Bile salts :- Sodium taurocholate and sodium glycolate. They are partly water soluble and partly fat soluble.

c) Fatty substances :- Cholesterol, lecithin and other phospholipids.

d) Bile pigments :- Bilirubin (yellowish) and biliverdin (greenish).

• Other minor bile pigments are bilicyanin, bilipresin, bilifusun, bilihumin, Bilirubin.
• Bile pigments are breakdown products of non- iron part of haemoglobin.
• Bile salts emulsify fat and activate lipase.
• Bile helps in absorption of iron, calcium, fatty acids etc.
• Its pH is 7.6 to 8.6.