Gall bladder

Gall bladder

The gall bladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located under the liver in the upper-right section of the abdomen. It stores bile, a fluid produced by the liver that helps in the digestion of fats.

Anatomy

The gall bladder is divided into three sections: the fundus, body, and neck. The neck tapers and connects to the biliary tree via the cystic duct, which then joins the common hepatic duct to form the common bile duct.

Function

The primary function of the gall bladder is to store and concentrate bile, a yellow-brown digestive enzyme produced by the liver. The gall bladder releases bile into the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, where it helps to digest fats and lipids in the food.

Diseases and conditions

Several diseases and conditions can affect the gall bladder, including:

• Gallstones - These are hard deposits that can form in the gall bladder when there's too much waste in the bile. They can cause pain and other complications if they block the bile ducts.
• Cholecystitis - This is inflammation of the gall bladder, often caused by gallstones blocking the bile ducts.
• Gallbladder cancer - Although rare, cancer can develop in the gall bladder. It's often discovered at a late stage because it doesn't cause specific symptoms in the early stages.

Treatment

Treatment for gall bladder conditions depends on the specific disease and its severity. Options may include lifestyle changes, medication, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), or surgery to remove the gall bladder (cholecystectomy).

See also

• Bile duct
• Liver
• Digestive system

Gall bladder Resources
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