Final answer:
The statement that gallstones can be located anywhere in the biliary tree is True. Gallstones, primarily consisting of cholesterol, can cause jaundice if they obstruct the bile duct. The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile for fat digestion in the duodenum.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gallstones can indeed be found anywhere in the biliary tree, not just in the gallbladder. Consequently, the statement that gallstones can be located anywhere in the biliary tree is True. These solid particles, formed mostly of cholesterol, sometimes accompanied by calcium salts, glycerophospholipids, and fatty acids, can cause blockages if they become lodged in the bile duct. This can lead to jaundice, indicated by a yellowing of the skin and eyes, due to the backup of the bile pigment bilirubin into the liver and bloodstream.
The gallbladder itself is an accessory organ of the digestive system that stores and concentrates bile, which is secreted into the duodenum for fat breakdown. It forms part of the biliary system that includes the liver—where bile is synthesized—and the pancreas, another gland that contributes to digestion. When chyme, a mix of partly digested food and digestive juices, enters the duodenum, bile is released from the gallbladder to aid in the emulsification and absorption of fats.