Gall Bladder

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver in the upper right abdomen. It plays a crucial role in the digestive process by storing and concentrating bile, a fluid produced by the liver that helps in the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine. The gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine in response to the ingestion of fatty foods.

• Bile Storage and Concentration: The primary function of the gallbladder is to store and concentrate bile produced by the liver. Bile is composed of water, bile salts, cholesterol, and bilirubin, among other substances. When bile is not needed for digestion, it is stored and concentrated in the gallbladder, which helps to increase its potency.
• Bile Release: When fatty foods enter the small intestine during a meal, hormonal signals stimulate the gallbladder to contract and release bile into the small intestine through the bile duct. Bile aids in the digestion and absorption of fats by emulsifying them into smaller droplets, which increases the surface area for digestive enzymes to act upon.
• Gallstones: Gallstones are hardened deposits that can form in the gallbladder due to an imbalance in the components of bile, such as cholesterol or bilirubin. Gallstones can vary in size and may cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and jaundice if they block the flow of bile from the gallbladder. In some cases, gallstones may require medical treatment or surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy).
• Cholecystectomy: Cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove the gallbladder, typically when it becomes inflamed, infected, or when gallstones cause symptoms. Cholecystectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. Most cholecystectomies are performed using minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopic surgery, which involves making several small incisions in the abdomen and using specialized instruments to remove the gallbladder.
• Biliary System: The gallbladder is part of the biliary system, which also includes the liver, bile ducts, and pancreas. Bile produced by the liver is transported through the bile ducts to the gallbladder for storage and concentration. After meals, bile is released from the gallbladder into the small intestine to aid in digestion.