Final answer:
Bile is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, which is located under the right side of the liver. The gallbladder concentrates bile and releases it into the duodenum for fat digestion. Bile production continues between meals but is conserved and concentrated in the gallbladder.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bile is a fluid produced by the liver and is essential for the digestion of lipids. It is stored in a small organ called the gallbladder, which is located under the right side of the liver. The gallbladder serves as a storage facility for bile, concentrating bile salts by removing water, and releases bile into the small intestine, specifically the duodenum, when it is needed for digestion.
Following a meal, particularly one that is rich in fats, chyme containing fatty acids enters the duodenum and signals the gallbladder to contract, pushing bile through the cystic duct back into the common bile duct, and from there, it enters the duodenum. This secretion of bile helps to neutralize acid from the stomach and breaks down lipid globules into tiny droplets, facilitating digestion and absorption of fats.
Between meals, bile production continues but is conserved. Hepatopancreatic ampulla, a valve-like structure, closes, which leads to the diversion of bile to the gallbladder, where it is stored and concentrated until the next meal requires its use.