Where is bile made and stored?

Bile production and storage involves two key organs:

Bile is produced in: THE LIVER

• The liver continuously produces bile in specialized liver cells called hepatocytes
• Approximately 500-1000 ml of bile is produced daily
• Bile is a greenish-yellow digestive fluid composed of bile salts, bile pigments (bilirubin), cholesterol, phospholipids, water, and electrolytes

Bile is stored in: THE GALLBLADDER

• The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver
• It serves as a storage reservoir, concentrating bile by absorbing water and electrolytes
• Bile can become 5-20 times more concentrated in the gallbladder than when first produced
• When fatty food enters the small intestine, the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) signals the gallbladder to contract
• The concentrated bile is then released through the bile duct into the duodenum (first part of the small intestine)

Pathway: Liver (production) → Hepatic ducts → Common bile duct → Gallbladder (storage) → Common bile duct → Duodenum (release for digestion)

Important note: While the gallbladder stores bile, it's not essential for survival. People who have had their gallbladder removed (cholecystectomy) can still digest fats, though bile flows continuously from the liver in a more dilute form rather than being concentrated and released on demand.