-
Bile is normally stored in the gallbladder until it
is need in the duodenum
-
The volume of the gallbladder is only 20-60 ml however
it can store up to 12 hours worth of bile secretion (~450 ml)
-
This is made possible because the gallbladder mucosa
absorb Na & Cl and osmotically removes the water thus concentrating
the other constituents - normally 5 fold but can be as high as 20-fold
Once food enters the duodenum this causes the gallbladder
to empty through three processes:
- CCK induced rhythmic contractions of the gallbaldder
- CCK induced relaxation of the sphincter of Oddi
- relaxation phase of peristaltic waves moving down the duodenum also
relax sphincter of Oddi
