Which organ stores bile?

Appeared in: Bihar CHO - 2021

Explanation

The gall bladder is a pear-shaped organ that acts as a reservoir for bile.
Bile is produced by the liver but is stored and concentrated in the gall bladder.
The gall bladder releases bile into the small intestine in response to fatty foods to aid in digestion.
This storage function allows for a larger amount of bile to be available for digestion than what the liver can produce at one time.

Option A: The liver's primary role in the biliary system is to produce bile, not to store it. Bile flows from the liver to the gall bladder for storage.
Option C: The spleen is part of the lymphatic and immune systems. Its main functions include filtering blood, removing old red blood cells, and fighting infection. It has no role in the production or storage of bile.
Option D: The pancreas is a gland with both exocrine and endocrine functions. It produces digestive enzymes to break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, and hormones like insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar. It does not store bile.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Anatomy and Physiology of the Digestive System helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the gall bladder's function is crucial for managing patients with biliary diseases like cholecystitis (inflammation) or cholelithiasis (gallstones).
Nurses play a key role in post-cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal) patient education, particularly regarding dietary modifications like adopting a low-fat diet to prevent gastrointestinal distress.
What if? If a patient's gall bladder is removed, the answer to 'Which organ stores bile?' becomes 'None'. Bile then drips continuously from the liver into the intestine, changing the digestive process.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keywords in the question: 'organ', 'stores', and 'bile'. The key action is 'stores'.
Second, recall the basic functions of the organs listed in the options.
Third, differentiate between the production and storage of bile. The liver produces bile, which is a common point of confusion.
Fourth, recognize that the gall bladder's specific purpose is to act as a reservoir for the bile made by the liver.
Finally, eliminate the other options based on their known functions: the spleen for blood filtration and the pancreas for producing digestive enzymes and insulin.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 140-142

E6 Physiology Guyton 4SAE Part 2A p. 181-183

E6 Physiology Review Sembulingam 5e p. 55-57

Practise the full Bihar CHO - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.