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*No valves so bile may flow in either direction
*No valves so bile may flow in either direction
[[Image:Formation of Bile Acids.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Formation of Bile Acids - Copyright RVC 2008]]
==Bile Acids==
*Composed of cholesterol, bile acids and steroids
*Main bile acid is cholic acid (C24)
*Conjugated to taurine or glycine in the liver to reduce pKa so they exist in an ionised form as bile salts
*Bile salts conjugate with cholesterol and phospholipids and are then secreted into the bile
*95% are recycled in enterohepatic circulation
*Emulsify fats
*Helps absorb fat soluble vitamins
*In aqueous solution form micelles which are amphiphilic and can transport free fatty acids across the brush border