Bile is produced by the liver. Specifically, liver cells called hepatocytes synthesize bile continuously, secreting it into small channels called canaliculi that eventually form bile ducts
. After production, bile is transported through the bile ducts to the gallbladder, where it is stored and concentrated until needed for digestion
. When you eat, the gallbladder contracts and releases bile into the small intestine (duodenum), where bile aids in the digestion and absorption of fats by breaking them down into fatty acids
. Thus, the liver is the primary site of bile production, while the gallbladder serves as a storage reservoir.
