Final answer:
The gallbladder's primary functions are the storage and concentration of bile, which is released into the duodenum to aid in the digestion of fats. It doesn't produce enzymes or mucus, nor does it carry out peristalsis or acid secretion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary muscular and chemical actions occurring in the Gallbladder are storage and concentration of bile. The gallbladder is designed to store bile that has been produced by the liver until it is needed for digestion. When chyme, which is partially digested food, enters the duodenum, especially if it contains fatty acids, the gallbladder then releases the bile through the cystic duct into the duodenum to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats. The bile acts as an emulsifying agent to break down fats into smaller droplets that can be more easily digested by enzymes in the small intestine.
Bile salts are concentrated in the gallbladder between meals, making the bile more effective when eventually secreted. Contrary to some of the options provided, the gallbladder is not directly involved in protein breakdown, enzyme production, or mucus production; nor does it engage in segmentation, peristalsis, or acid secretion as are seen in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
So, the correct answer to the student's question is c) Storage and concentration of bile.