What Does the Gallbladder Do?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
4. Releases Bile into the Duodenum
Before a meal, the gallbladder is full of bile, and its shape is like that of an inflated balloon. Once food gets into the stomach, hormonal and nervous signals trigger the gallbladder to release bile into the duodenum.
Bile trickles through the cystic and common bile ducts into the duodenum. In the duodenum, bile aids in the breakdown of fats ready for further digestion by the lipase enzyme, and absorption through the intestinal walls.
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