Which organ stores and concentrates bile?

The organ responsible for storing and concentrating bile is the gallbladder. Bile, which is produced by the liver, plays a crucial role in the digestion and absorption of fats. Once synthesized in the liver, bile is transported through the bile ducts to the gallbladder, where it is stored until it is needed in the digestive process.

When food enters the small intestine, particularly fatty foods, the gallbladder releases the concentrated bile into the duodenum, the first portion of the small intestine, to assist with digestion. The gallbladder, therefore, acts as an important reservoir that optimizes the amount of bile available for digestion when it is most needed, allowing for efficient fat emulsification.

In contrast, the liver produces bile, the pancreas secretes digestive enzymes and bicarbonate but does not store bile, and the duodenum is involved in the digestive process but does not function as a storage organ for bile.