gallbladder
noun
gall·blad·der
ˈgȯl-ˌbla-dər 
plural gallbladders
: a membranous muscular sac in which bile from the liver is concentrated and stored before being passed to the intestinal duodenum
After a meal, the gallbladder contracts and injects several tablespoons of bile into the small intestines, where the detergent-like bile salts break up fats.—
David Schardt
David SchardtFor reasons not yet entirely clear, many people, women more often than men, are predisposed to forming stones in their gallbladder.—Sherwin B. Nuland
Sherwin B. NulandExamples of gallbladder in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
However, hormone therapy is still not recommended for women with existing heart disease, history of blood clots, prior stroke, gallbladder disease or certain types of cancers.
—Matthew Nudy, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
Makes sense then, that according to Chinese medicine, spring is also the best season to support the work of the liver and gallbladder, key organs for cleansing and detoxing.
—Marie Bladt, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2025
The news was confirmed by the actress’s manager, who tells TVLine that Stewart became ill after doctors found a tumor between her liver and gallbladder.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 22 Feb. 2025
The actress passed suddenly after a tumor was found near her liver and gallbladder in mid-December, Stewart's representative Bette Smith told USA TODAY Saturday.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
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Matthew Nudy, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
Makes sense then, that according to Chinese medicine, spring is also the best season to support the work of the liver and gallbladder, key organs for cleansing and detoxing.
—Marie Bladt, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2025
The news was confirmed by the actress’s manager, who tells TVLine that Stewart became ill after doctors found a tumor between her liver and gallbladder.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 22 Feb. 2025
The actress passed suddenly after a tumor was found near her liver and gallbladder in mid-December, Stewart's representative Bette Smith told USA TODAY Saturday.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gallbladder
Cite this Entry
“Gallbladder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gallbladder. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gallbladder
noun
gall·blad·der
ˈgȯl-ˌblad-ər
: a muscular sac in which bile from the liver is stored
Medical Definition
gallbladder
noun
gall·blad·der
ˈgȯl-ˌblad-ər
: a membranous muscular sac in which bile from the liver is concentrated and stored before being passed to the duodenum
Gallstones are made of cholesterol, a normal component of the bile stored in the gallbladder.—D. Shiga, Science News
D. Shiga, Science NewsRemoval of the gallbladder—a pear-shaped sac in the right side of your abdomen—has little adverse effect on digestion. After surgery, bile flows directly from your liver to your small intestine rather than being stored first in your gallbladder.—Mayo Clinic Health Letter
Mayo Clinic Health LetterLove words? Need even more definitions?
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