Study liver anatomy and function with our medical students test. Engage with detailed multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your test!

Multiple Choice

Where do substances excreted into bile ultimately leave the body?

Substances excreted into bile are routed into the digestive tract and ultimately exit the body in feces. Bile produced by the liver flows into the biliary ducts and reaches the duodenum via the common bile duct. In the intestine, bilirubin in bile is converted by gut bacteria into urobilinogen; most of this is further transformed into stercobilin, which gives stool its typical brown color and is excreted with feces. A portion can be reabsorbed and recirculated (enterohepatic circulation), but the end product pathway for these biliary excretions is fecal elimination.

Substances excreted into bile are routed into the digestive tract and ultimately exit the body in feces. Bile produced by the liver flows into the biliary ducts and reaches the duodenum via the common bile duct. In the intestine, bilirubin in bile is converted by gut bacteria into urobilinogen; most of this is further transformed into stercobilin, which gives stool its typical brown color and is excreted with feces. A portion can be reabsorbed and recirculated (enterohepatic circulation), but the end product pathway for these biliary excretions is fecal elimination.