Gallbladder

Bile storage

How does the gallbladder work?

A small pouch under the liver that stores and concentrates bile, then squeezes it into the intestine when fat arrives.

How it works, step by step

1. The liver makes bile continuously.
2. Between meals it's stored and concentrated in the gallbladder.
3. Fat in the duodenum triggers the hormone CCK.
4. The gallbladder contracts; bile emulsifies fat so enzymes can digest it.

Living without it

People can live without a gallbladder — bile then drips continuously from the liver into the intestine.

Evidence & sources

• Bile helps digest fats and absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Evidence: established. Known: Foundational physiology. Unknown: — Source: NIH NIDDK, Your Digestive System & How It Works (Current revision).

Connected topics

• Liver
• Fat
• Small Intestine
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin A

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General education only, not medical advice. Drafted Oct 2026 · pending qualified expert review.