Where is bile stored until it is needed for digestion?

Bile is stored in the gallbladder until it is needed for digestion. The gallbladder serves as a reservoir that concentrates and stores bile, which is produced by the liver. When food enters the small intestine, particularly fatty foods, the gallbladder contracts to release bile into the small intestine. This bile aids in the emulsification and digestion of fats, allowing fats to be more easily absorbed by the intestinal lining.

While the liver is responsible for the production of bile, it is not the storage site; rather, it delivers bile directly to the small intestine through the bile ducts. The pancreas, on the other hand, produces digestive enzymes and hormones but does not store bile. Likewise, the small intestine is where digestion occurs, but it does not serve as a storage location for bile. Thus, the gallbladder's role as the storage organ for bile is crucial for facilitating efficient digestion when fats are present in the intestine.