The gallbladder is located in front of the duodenum the first section of the small intestine. It has the capacity to store approximately 30 to 50 cubic centimeters cc of fluid, called bile. The gallbladder is divided into three sections, including:. There are several layers of the gallbladder, these include:.
The outer layer of the gallbladder's fundus and other surfaces of the gallbladder—those that are not in direct contact with the liver—are covered by a type of tissue called serosa. The serosa is a type of tissue that lines internal cavities and forms a smooth, two-layered membrane, lubricated by fluid. Serosa contains blood vessels and lymphatics vessels similar to veins that are part of the lymphatic system.
The function of lymphatics is to transport lymphatic fluid from the lymph nodes. The surfaces of the gallbladder which are in contact with the liver are not covered with serosa, but, rather they are covered with connective tissue. The gallbladder is located inferior below and posterior behind to the liver in the upper right quadrant section of the abdomen.
It lies in front of the duodenum the first section of the small intestine. The gallbladder is connected to the liver via the ducts known as the biliary tract. The gallbladder is attached to the digestive system by a system of hollow ducts called the biliary tree. Through this system, bile flows from the liver where the liver cells make and secrete the bile into a system of ducts—located inside and outside the liver—which allow the bile to flow from:.
After food is eaten, a hormone called cholecystokinin is secreted; this stimulates the release of bile, and the bile begins breaking down fats in the digestive system. The contractions of the gallbladder are caused by several factors, including:. Bile has two primary functions, including:. Common gallbladder conditions can involve infection, stones, inflammation or blockage of the gallbladder.
Gallstones cholelithiasis are pebble-like deposits of bile in the gallbladder. They can be very small such as the size of a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. They can accumulate as a single gallstone, or as a collection of many stones, of various sizes. Once a diagnosis of gallstones or other gallbladder disorders is made, most people with symptoms undergo removal of the gallbladder.
This procedure is most often performed using laparoscopic use of a scope with a camera, which is inserted into a very small incision surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is also called minimally invasive surgery, because of the small incision. Today, one of the most common robotic-assisted surgery procedures is a cholecystectomy. One of the most common surgeries performed worldwide is the removal of the gallbladder cholecystectomy as a treatment for gallstones.
Tests performed to diagnose gallbladder conditions may include:. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. MUSC Health. Medical University of South Carolina. Updated If a more detailed look at your gallbladder and bile ducts is needed, your doctor may schedule the following procedure:. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography In an ERCP procedure, you are sedated and an endoscope a long, thin tube containing a tiny camera is passed down your throat into your bile ducts.
Contrast dye and X-ray images are also typically used to view your gallbladder and surrounding structures in detail. Your doctor will diagnose gallbladder cancer on the basis of blood tests, imaging tests, a physical exam, and your history of symptoms. Once gallbladder cancer is confirmed or suspected, more tests will be needed to determine the extent stage of your cancer.
These may include:. Gallbladder polyps are often discovered only when your doctor is looking at your gallbladder and bile ducts for another condition. If your polyps are causing symptoms, your doctor may order an abdominal ultrasound to look at the area. If you have polyps that are less than half an inch wide, your doctor may decide that no further exploration is needed, since these are unlikely to be cancerous.
Some gallbladder problems may cause only minor, occasional discomfort, while others may lead to serious and even life-threatening health problems. Your doctor will determine the type and severity of your gallbladder problem and come up with a treatment strategy. Many gallbladder problems improve or are even completely resolved with treatment. Gallbladder problems may be persistent, causing bouts of pain and other symptoms indefinitely if the underlying condition is not treated.
If you have a gallstone that is blocking your common bile duct the one that runs from the gallbladder to the small intestine , your doctor may recommend endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP. This procedure may be used both to diagnose your condition and to treat it immediately.
During ERCP, an endoscope a long, thin tube containing a tiny camera is passed down your throat and into your bile ducts. Your doctor may then use additional tubes or tiny tools to remove gallstones from the area. If your doctor discovers during ERCP that there are gallstones in the gallbladder itself, surgery may be necessary.
If you have gallbladder cancer, in addition to having your gallbladder removed, your doctor may recommend additional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Doctors are also learning more about how and when to treat gallstones during pregnancy. The most common surgical procedure related to the gallbladder is removing it completely. Known as cholecystectomy , gallbladder removal is most often performed to resolve pain caused by gallstones. There are two methods of gallbladder removal.
Laparoscopy , which is almost always the preferred method, involves making several small incisions through which surgical tools and a tiny video camera are inserted.
Open surgery, using a large incision, may be required if your surgeon discovers during a laparoscopic procedure that your gallbladder is infected or has hardened. This happens in 5 to 10 percent of laparoscopic gallbladder surgeries. Learn More About Gallbladder Surgery. A drug called ursodiol may be taken to slowly dissolve the cholesterol in gallstones. But this treatment can take months, and gallstones may return once the drug is no longer being taken.
When your gallbladder is removed, your body is no longer able to store bile there. As a result, your liver must adapt to releasing bile directly into your small intestine to aid in digestion.
Before your body adapts to this new reality, it can be more difficult to digest certain fatty and high-fiber foods. Gallstones can lead to a number of different complications in the gallbladder and beyond, including the following:. Gallbladder inflammation or a bile duct blockage can be quite painful and cause fever, chills, or jaundice. Seek urgent medical attention if you develop these symptoms. Learn More About Cholecystitis. Gallbladder removal is a common procedure that rarely results in severe complications.
You may also experience loose stools on occasion after gallbladder removal, caused by bile entering your small intestine when no food is present. This may be treated with a bile acid-binding medication. In some cases, though, more severe complications develop, such as bile leaking into the abdominal cavity or an injury to a bile duct, your liver, or your small intestine.
These can occur on top of general surgery complications like infection, bleeding, blood clots, and pneumonia. Contact your doctor if you experience any signs of a complication that may need treatment. More than 25 million people in the United States have gallstones, according to Harvard Medical School, making them relatively common. Before age 40, women are almost three times as likely to develop gallstones as men — in part because of the increased risk of gallstones during pregnancy.
But by age 60, women have only a slightly higher risk. Gallbladder removal is one of the most common operations in the United States, performed over , times each year. Certain ethnic groups have a higher risk for gallbladder problems than others. In the United States, the risk for gallbladder cancer is highest for Native Americans than any other group. Gallbladder problems such as gallstones are sometimes seen alongside other health problems, including the following:.
In addition, gallstones and other gallbladder problems may increase the risk of certain health problems, including:. Some symptoms may indicate a more serious gallbladder problem. Your gallbladder is located in the upper right portion of your abdomen. There are a variety of conditions that can affect the gallbladder, the most common of which are gallstones. Untreated gallstones can lead to potentially serious complications like blockages and inflammation. See your doctor if you have pain in the upper right part of your abdomen, particularly after eating.
This could be a symptom of gallstones. A doctor can provide both diagnosis and treatment. Gallstones can block your bile duct and cause abdominal pain. Learn how to recognize the symptoms and what the treatment options are.
The gallbladder is a sensitive organ, and maintaining a diet full of nutrient-dense foods helps keep it healthy. Certain foods can protect and promote…. Doctors perform gallbladder removal to provide permanent relief from gallstones and other problems associated with the gallbladder. The gallbladder is an organ that stores bile. Bile helps the digestive process by breaking down fat from food passed into your intestine. Sleeping on your left side can help manage pain caused by gallstones if you have a clogged bile duct.
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What is the purpose of your gallbladder? Where is your gallbladder located? What are the typical symptoms of a gallbladder issue? What are the most common gallbladder problems? What can you do to help prevent gallbladder problems? Can you live without a gallbladder? When to see a doctor.
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