Gallbladder and the biliary tract
Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac that sits underneath your liver on the right-hand side of your abdomen. The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile before it is released into the small intestine.
Bile is a greenish-yellow fluid that is secreted into the small intestine after eating. Its function is to help in the digestion of fats. It does this by emulsifying fats and breaking down larger globules of fat into smaller droplets, which can be more easily digested.
The biliary tract refers to the system of ducts that transport bile from the liver where it is made, to the gallbladder and also into the small intestine. If a bile duct becomes obstructed, a person will develop jaundice.
Last Reviewed: 26 February 2009
