Bile - GCSE Biology Definition

Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It plays a key role in the digestion of fats. Bile is released into the small intestine, where it emulsifies fats—breaking them into smaller droplets. This increases the surface area for lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fats, making digestion more efficient. Bile also helps to neutralise stomach acid, creating the optimal pH for enzymes in the small intestine. Understanding the function of bile is important in GCSE Biology as it explains how the body digests and absorbs fats effectively.