Mini Lesson: Accessory Organs

Video Transcript

Roles in Digestion

The digestive tract is basically one long tube, with different areas having different jobs in the digestive process.  Even though they are not a part of this tube, the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas have important jobs in the digestive process, and also help the body to handle the nutrients taken in from food.

Once food enters the small intestine, messengers are sent to the gallbladder and the pancreas to let them know it’s time for their help. The liver makes the bile that helps to break down and absorb fats and cholesterols from the food that we eat. The gallbladder stores and concentrates the bile until it gets the signal from the small intestine to squeeze out the bile, which is released in the first part of the small intestine where it acts kind of like dish soap to break apart large groups of fats. Then fat specific enzymes from the pancreas can finish separating these smaller groups into individuals fatty acids and cholesterol that can be taken in and used by the body. The pancreas also makes enzymes that help to break down proteins and carbohydrates. Together the bile from the liver and gallbladder and the enzymes from the pancreas prepare the food for the final steps of digestion in the small intestine.

Managing the Use of Nutrients

Besides digestion, these organs have very important jobs to help the body use the nutrients that are taken in from the food. The pancreas also makes some important messengers that help the body to use the sugar molecules that come from carbohydrates, and to tell the body it’s time to make more sugars when needed between meals. The pancreas works with the liver on this job, because the liver stores away the extra sugar when there is too much in the blood, and makes more sugar when there is not enough. The liver also takes care of our unused fats from our food, makes new fats from leftover sugars, makes cholesterol when the body needs more, and helps to get rid of all sorts of toxins so they don’t cause more problems in the body. Digestion really would not be complete without these accessory organs, and the bile and pancreatic enzymes also help to keep bacteria from growing out of control in the small intestine.

Consequences of Dysfunction

The tube that is used to carry the bile and enzymes from the gallbladder and pancreas can sometimes get clogged up. When this happens, foods are not always  broken down the way that they should be and it can even cause damage and pain in the gallbladder, pancreas, and even the liver.

Gallstones are a common problem that can cause pain and inflammation in both the gallbladder and the pancreas. If it is bad enough—and many times when its not—doctors will recommend that the gallbladder is taken out in surgery. This might help to relieve the pain that comes from inflammation in the gallbladder and possibly the pancreas, but about half of the people who have had this surgery still experience the same problems they had before surgery, even a year after they have had the gallbladder taken out. Although sometimes it really is necessary to take the gallbladder out to keep infection from spreading, there are many reasons a person might be having symptoms that will not be fixed by having this surgery.

Supporting the Accessory Organs

Many people would benefit from lifestyle and dietary changes that help the liver to make healthy bile, which not only helps to keep the gallbladder healthy but keeps the body digesting fats properly, helps to keep bacteria under control in the small intestine, and gets rid of toxins in the body. If any of these things are not working properly, the entire body can suffer with common symptoms like pain and fatigue that will not go away unless the real problem is taken care of.

Potential Causes of Problems

Besides the potential problems that affect digestion, issues with the liver and pancreas can also affect how the body deals with fats and carbohydrates. Sometimes problems are passed on genetically, but most issues happen when we eat too many highly refined and processed foods. These foods typically have imbalanced or modified nutrients that are difficult for our organs to handle and they often do not have the right amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other plant nutrients that help the liver and pancreas to work the way that they should.