Final answer:
The gallbladder is the organ that serves as a storage reservoir for bile from the liver, concentrating it and secreting it into the duodenum as needed for fat digestion. The correct answer to the question is a) Gallbladder.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question is a) Gallbladder. The gallbladder is a sac-like organ that serves as a reservoir for bile secreted from the liver. It stores and concentrates bile until it is needed for digestion in the duodenum of the small intestine. When you eat, especially foods high in fat, the gallbladder contracts and releases bile through the cystic duct to the common bile duct, and eventually into the duodenum. This bile emulsifies fats, enabling their digestion by enzymes, primarily those produced by the pancreas.
Bile also plays a role in reducing the acidity from the stomach contents entering the duodenum, which helps create a favorable environment for the digestive enzymes. Unlike organs directly involved in the passage of food like the stomach or intestine, the gallbladder is considered an accessory digestive organ. To recap, the gallbladder's primary function is to store and concentrate bile, which is utilized in the digestive process for breaking down and absorbing fats.