A pear-shaped organ that stores bile produced by the liver.

A pear-shaped organ that stores bile produced by the liver.

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

Answer: (A)

Bile produced by the liver is stored and concentrated in a pear-shaped sac located under the liver—the gallbladder. Between meals, bile sits in this organ, and when a fatty meal arrives, a hormonal signal prompts the gallbladder to contract and release bile into the small intestine through the bile ducts to help emulsify fats. The other organs listed have different roles: the pancreas makes digestive enzymes, the spleen filters blood and supports immunity, and the appendix is a small pouch of the large intestine.

Bile produced by the liver is stored and concentrated in a pear-shaped sac located under the liver—the gallbladder. Between meals, bile sits in this organ, and when a fatty meal arrives, a hormonal signal prompts the gallbladder to contract and release bile into the small intestine through the bile ducts to help emulsify fats. The other organs listed have different roles: the pancreas makes digestive enzymes, the spleen filters blood and supports immunity, and the appendix is a small pouch of the large intestine.