What Does the Gallbladder Do? Understanding Its Role in Digestion
Many people ask, what does the gallbladder do ? The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver. Although it is relatively small, it plays a role in the digestive system by storing and concentrating bile. Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver. It contains substances that help the body digest and absorb fats. Rather than continuously releasing all the bile produced by the liver into the intestine, the gallbladder stores some of it. When a person eats, especially a meal containing fat, digestive signals can cause the gallbladder to contract. Bile is then released through the bile ducts into the small intestine. So, what does the gallbladder do in simple terms? It stores bile and releases it when it is needed for digestion. The gallbladder itself does not produce bile. The liver performs that function. The gallbladder acts more like a storage and concentration organ. Problems can develop when substances in bile form gallstones. Gallstones can somet...