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gall bladder
Definition
The gall bladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that sits under the liver. It stores bile, a fluid that helps to digest fats.
When you eat fatty foods, the gall bladder contracts and releases bile into the small intestine. Bile helps to break down fats into smaller pieces so that they can be absorbed by the body.
The gall bladder is not essential for life. If it is removed, the liver will still produce bile, but it will be released directly into the small intestine.
How can the word be used?
The patient had to have their gall bladder removed.
Different forms of the word
Noun: gall bladder, gall bladders.
Adjective: gall bladder.
Etymology
The word "gall bladder" comes from the Old English words galla, meaning "bile", and blæder, meaning "bag". The Old English word galla is related to the Latin word gallus, which also means "bile".
Question
What does the gall bladder do?