Gallbladder and biliary tract

The **gallbladder and biliary tract** together comprise the system responsible for the storage, concentration, and controlled release of bile, which is produced by the liver and important for the digestion and absorption of dietary fats. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ situated under the liver, connected via the cystic duct to the common bile duct, which transports bile to the duodenum[7][5][1][3][9]. The biliary tract includes intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts—the anatomical system that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the intestine. The gallbladder and biliary tract are frequent sites of disease, including gallstones, infection, inflammatory disease, and several forms of cancer (especially gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma)[2][4][6][8]. However, as an anatomical-organ system, this is not a molecular drug target.

Other names

GallbladderBiliary tractBiliary systemBiliary treeBile ducts