the gallbladder

Here’s a question to throw into this discussion about the gallbladder that  Dale and Barry are having.  (Which I find interesting – you both write of  things that I think about but just don’t have the inclination to put into  words, so I appreciate it!!)

This is for anyone who knows about the gallbladder’s actions and it’s sort of  a twofold question.  When we eat foods that require bile for digestion, does  the gallbladder release a certain portion of it’s bile depending on the  amount of fat in the food?  Or does it just contract and release all that it  has and then start filling up again?  And is there such a thing as a stronger  contraction of the gallbladder, or are we just inclined to feel that way  because of those times when we’ve had attacks?

I mean – is it actually a  ‘stronger’ contraction, or is it just that we’re aware of it because of the  blockage that exists at the time?  Could it be that the intensity of the pain  is related to the amount of blockage (full or partial) ?    If anyone understands what I’m getting at, I’ll be amazed.