What is the primary function of the gallbladder?

The primary function of the gallbladder is to store bile. Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver that helps to emulsify fats in the food we eat, making it easier for digestive enzymes to break them down. The gallbladder holds this bile until it is needed in the digestive process, particularly after a meal when fat is present in the small intestine. Once food enters the intestine, the gallbladder contracts and releases bile into the small intestine to aid in digestion.

Understanding the role of the gallbladder highlights its importance in the digestion of dietary fats, distinguishing it from organs with other primary functions, such as the pancreas, which produces digestive enzymes, or the liver, which is involved in regulating blood glucose levels and producing bile. Nutrient absorption is primarily the function of the small intestine, not the gallbladder.