Background

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac (bag) situated on the under-surface of the liver. Its function is to collect and store bile, which is a greenish liquid, secreted by the liver. A system of ducts from the liver tissue feeds into the common bile duct, which connects with the gallbladder. This duct also leads to the duodenum, which is the upper part of the small intestine. Bile is produced continuously by the liver and is stored by the gallbladder to be released into the duodenum when needed.

Bile contains cholesterol and other fats, acids, salts and pigments. When partially digested food passes from the stomach into the duodenum the gallbladder is stimulated to contract and it releases bile into the duodenum. It then mixes with the food to facilitate digestion of dietary fats.