The gallbladder's main function is to store and concentrate bile, produced by the liver, which aids in fat digestion.
Detailed Function of the Gallbladder
The gallbladder plays a crucial role in the digestive system by managing bile. Here's a breakdown:
- Storage: The gallbladder acts as a reservoir, holding bile produced by the liver until it's needed for digestion.
- Concentration: It concentrates the bile by absorbing water and electrolytes, making it more effective at emulsifying fats.
- Delivery: When fatty foods enter the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder contracts and releases the concentrated bile through the bile duct into the duodenum. According to reference material, this helps your body to break down and absorb fats from food (27-Apr-2021).
How Bile Aids Fat Digestion
Bile contains bile salts, which are essential for:
- Emulsification: Bile salts break down large fat globules into smaller droplets, increasing the surface area for digestive enzymes to act upon.
- Absorption: They form micelles that transport digested fats through the intestinal wall for absorption into the bloodstream.
