What is the name of the small sac that stores bile under the liver?

The correct answer is the gallbladder, which is a small sac located beneath the liver. Its primary function is to store and concentrate bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver that aids in the digestion of fats. When food containing fat enters the small intestine, the gallbladder releases bile into the digestive tract to facilitate the breakdown and absorption of these fats.

Understanding the role of the gallbladder is important within the context of digestive health, as issues such as gallstones or inflammation can affect the storage and release of bile, leading to digestive complications. In contrast, the other options refer to different organs with distinct functions: the spleen is involved in filtering blood and supporting the immune system, the appendix is part of the digestive system but has no direct role in bile storage, and the pancreas produces digestive enzymes and insulin but does not store bile. This clarity about the gallbladder's specific purpose helps underscore its importance in the digestive process.