The gallbladder is the organ that stores bile.
Understanding Bile and its Storage
Bile, a yellowish-green fluid crucial for fat digestion, is produced by the liver. However, it's not immediately used. Instead, it's transported to and stored in the gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ situated beneath the liver. The gallbladder acts as a reservoir, concentrating and releasing bile into the small intestine when needed, specifically during the digestion of fatty foods. This process is facilitated by the biliary tree, a network of ducts connecting the liver, gallbladder, and small intestine.
Several sources confirm this:
- Cleveland Clinic: States that bile is "produced by your liver and stored by your gallbladder." https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/what-is-bile
- MUSC Health: Clearly indicates that the gallbladder "stores bile." https://muschealth.org/medical-services/ddc/patients/digestive-organs/gallbladder
- University of Michigan Health: Describes the gallbladder as "a pear-shaped reservoir located just under the liver that receives and stores bile made in the liver." https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/digestive-and-liver-health/your-digestive-system
- MedlinePlus: Explains that bile is "made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder." https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002237.htm
In summary, while the liver produces bile, the gallbladder is the dedicated storage organ for this essential digestive fluid.
