Which accessory organ stores and concentrates bile, releasing it into the duodenum via the common bile duct when fatty foods are present?

• A. Gallbladder
• B. Liver
• C. Pancreas
• D. Spleen

Answer: (A)

The organ that stores and concentrates bile and releases it into the duodenum when fatty foods are present is the gallbladder. Bile is produced in the liver and travels through the biliary ducts, where it can be stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. When a fatty meal enters the small intestine, the hormone cholecystokinin is released, signaling the gallbladder to contract. This pushes bile into the common bile duct and onward to the duodenum through the sphincter of Oddi to help emulsify fats. The liver makes bile but does not store it, the pancreas produces pancreatic juice, and the spleen isn’t involved in bile storage or release.