By Kelley Boles Updated Mar 24, 2022
The gallbladder sits just beneath and posterior to the liver, forming a bulbous reservoir that narrows into the bile ducts as it approaches the small intestine.
Its chief duty is to store bile salts produced by the liver. These salts are essential for emulsifying dietary fats, breaking them down into cholesterol and fatty acids for absorption.
When fats reach the small intestine, the gallbladder contracts, propelling stored bile through a network of ducts that deliver it directly to the duodenum, where it interacts with partially digested food.
Within minutes of a meal, stomach acid triggers the release of cholecystokinin (CCK), which binds to receptors on the gallbladder, causing smooth‑muscle contraction and bile discharge into the ducts.
Gallstones form when bile components crystallize, blocking ducts and impairing bile flow. Risk factors include gender, family history, obesity, and diabetes. Severe cases often require cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder.
