Anatomical structure and location of the gallbladder in the human body. Location and structure of the gallbladder and biliary tract Gallbladder and ducts anatomy

Liver secretions necessary for digestion move through the gallbladder to the intestinal cavity along the bile ducts. Various diseases provoke changes in the functioning of the bile ducts. Interruptions in the functioning of these pathways affect the performance of the entire organism. The bile ducts differ in their structural and physiological features.

Interruptions in the functioning of the bile ducts affect the performance of the entire body

What is the gallbladder for?

The liver is responsible for the secretion of bile in the body, and what function does the gallbladder perform in the body? The biliary system is formed by the gallbladder and its ducts. The development of pathological processes in it threatens with serious complications and affects the normal functioning of a person.

The functions of the gallbladder in the human body are:

accumulation of bile fluid in the organ cavity;
thickening and preservation of liver secretions;
excretion through the bile ducts into the small intestine;
protecting the body from irritating components.

Bile production is carried out by liver cells and does not stop day or night. Why does a person need a gallbladder and why can’t we do without this connecting link when transporting liver fluid?

The secretion of bile occurs constantly, but the processing of food mass with bile is required only during the process of digestion, which is limited in duration. Therefore, the role of the gallbladder in the human body is to accumulate and store liver secretions until the right time. The production of bile in the body is an uninterrupted process and it is produced many times more than the volume of the pear-shaped organ can accommodate. Therefore, bile is split inside the cavity, water and some substances necessary for other physiological processes are removed. Thus, it becomes more concentrated and its volume is significantly reduced.

The amount that the bladder will release does not depend on how much it is produced by the largest gland - the liver, which is responsible for the production of bile. What matters in this case is the amount of food consumed and its nutritional composition. The passage of food into the esophagus serves as a signal to begin work. To digest fatty and heavy foods, a larger amount of secretion will be required, so the organ will contract more strongly. If the amount of bile in the bladder is insufficient, then the liver is directly involved in the process, where the secretion of bile never stops.

The accumulation and excretion of bile is carried out as follows:

Therefore, the role of the gallbladder in the human body is to accumulate and store liver secretions until the right time.

the common hepatic duct transfers the secretion to the biliary organ, where it accumulates and is stored until the right moment;
the bubble begins to contract rhythmically;
the bladder valve opens;
the opening of the intracanal valves is provoked, the sphincter of the major duodendral papilla relaxes;
Bile travels along the common bile duct to the intestines.

In cases where the bladder is removed, the biliary system does not cease to function. All the work falls on the bile ducts. The gallbladder is innervated or connected to the central nervous system through the hepatic plexus.

Gallbladder dysfunction affects your health and can cause weakness, nausea, vomiting, itching and other unpleasant symptoms. In Chinese medicine, it is customary to consider the gallbladder not as a separate organ, but as a component of one system with the liver, which is responsible for the timely release of bile.

The gallbladder meridian is considered Yangsky, i.e. paired and runs throughout the body from head to toes. The liver meridian, which belongs to the Yin organs, and the bile meridian are closely related. It is important to understand how it spreads in the human body so that treatment of organ pathologies using Chinese medicine is effective. There are two channel paths:

external, passing from the corner of the eye through the temporal region, forehead and back of the head, then descending to the armpit and lower along the front of the thigh to the ring toe;
internal, starting at the shoulders and going through the diaphragm, stomach and liver, ending with a branch in the bladder.

Stimulating points on the meridian of the biliary organ helps not only improve digestion and improve its functioning. Impact on the points of the head relieves:

migraines;
arthritis;
diseases of the visual organs.

Also, through the points of the body, you can improve cardiac activity, and with help. Areas on the legs - muscle activity.

The structure of the gallbladder and biliary tract

The gallbladder meridian affects many organs, which suggests that the normal functioning of the biliary system is extremely important for the functioning of the entire body. The anatomy of the gallbladder and biliary tract is a complex system of channels that ensure the movement of bile within the human body. Its anatomy helps to understand how the gallbladder works.

What is the gallbladder, what is its structure and functions? This organ has the shape of a sac, which is located on the surface of the liver, more precisely, in its lower part.

In some cases, during intrauterine development the organ does not come to the surface of the liver. The intrahepatic location of the bladder increases the risk of developing cholelithiasis and other diseases.

The shape of the gallbladder has a pear-shaped outline, a narrowed top and an expansion at the bottom of the organ. There are three parts in the structure of the gallbladder:

a narrow neck where bile enters through the common hepatic duct;
body, widest part;
the bottom, which is easily determined by ultrasound.

The organ has a small volume and is capable of holding about 50 ml of fluid. Excess bile is excreted through the small duct.

The walls of the bubble have the following structure:

Serous outer layer.
Epithelial layer.
Mucous membrane.

The mucous membrane of the gallbladder is designed in such a way that incoming bile is very quickly absorbed and processed. The folded surface contains many mucous glands, the intensive work of which concentrates the incoming fluid and reduces its volume.

The anatomy of the gallbladder and biliary tract is a complex system of channels that ensure the movement of bile within the human body

The anatomy of the biliary tract includes two types of ducts: extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts.

The structure of the bile ducts outside the liver consists of several channels:

Cystic duct connecting the liver with the bladder.
The common bile duct (CBD or common bile duct), starting at the place where the hepatic and cystic ducts connect and going to the duodenum.

The anatomy of the bile ducts distinguishes the sections of the common bile duct. First, bile from the bladder passes through the supraduodendral section, passes into the retroduodendral section, then through the pancreatic section it enters the duodendral section. Only along this path can bile pass from the organ cavity to the duodenum.

How does the gallbladder work?

The process of moving bile in the body is started by small intrahepatic tubules, which unite at the outlet and form the left and right hepatic ducts. Then they form into an even larger common hepatic duct, from where the secretion enters the gallbladder.

How does the gallbladder work, and what factors influence its activity? During periods when digestion of food is not required, the bladder is in a relaxed state. The job of the gallbladder at this time is to accumulate secretions. Eating food triggers many reflexes. The pear-shaped organ is also included in the process, which makes it mobile due to the contractions that begin. At this point, it already contains processed bile.

The required amount of bile is released into the common bile duct. Through this channel, liquid enters the intestine and promotes digestion. Its function is to break down fats through the acids it contains. In addition, processing food with bile leads to the activation of enzymes required for digestion. These include:

lipase;
aminolase;
trypsin.

Bile appears in the liver. Passing through the choleretic channel, it changes its color, structure and decreases in quantity. Those. bile is formed in the bladder, which is different from the liver secretion.

Concentration of incoming bile from the liver occurs by removing water and electrolytes from it.

The principle of operation of the gallbladder is described by the following points:

Collection of bile, which is produced by the liver.
Thickening and storage of secretions.
The direction of fluid through the duct into the intestine, where food is processed and broken down.

The organ begins to work, and its valves open only after the person receives nutrition. The gallbladder meridian, on the contrary, is activated only in the late evening from eleven to one in the morning.

Diagnosis of bile ducts

Failure in the functioning of the biliary system most often occurs due to the formation of some kind of obstacle in the canals. The reason for this may be:

cholelithiasis
tumors;
inflammation of the bladder or bile ducts;
strictures and scars that may affect the common bile duct.

Diseases are identified through a medical examination of the patient and palpation of the area of the right hypochondrium, which makes it possible to establish deviations from the norm in the size of the gallbladder, laboratory tests of blood and feces, as well as using hardware diagnostics:

Ultrasonography shows the presence of stones and how many of them have formed in the ducts.

X-ray. Not able to give specifics about the pathology, but helps confirm the presence of a suspected pathology.
Ultrasound. Ultrasonography shows the presence of stones and how many of them have formed in the ducts.
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). It combines x-ray and endoscopic examination and is the most effective method for studying diseases of the biliary system.
CT. In case of cholelithiasis, this study helps to clarify some details that cannot be determined with ultrasound.
MRI. A method similar to CT.

In addition to these studies, a minimally invasive method for detecting blockage of the choleretic ducts can be used - laparoscopy.

Causes of bile duct diseases

Disturbances in the functioning of the bladder have various causes and can be triggered by:

Any pathological changes in the ducts disrupt the normal outflow of bile. Expansion and narrowing of the bile ducts, thickening of the walls of the common bile duct, and the appearance of various formations in the canals indicate the development of diseases.

The narrowing of the lumen of the bile ducts disrupts the return flow of secretions to the duodenum. The causes of the disease in this case may be:

mechanical trauma caused during surgery;
obesity;
inflammatory processes;
the appearance of cancerous tumors and metastases in the liver.

Strictures that form in the bile ducts provoke cholestasis, pain in the right hypochondrium, jaundice, intoxication, and fever. The narrowing of the bile ducts leads to the fact that the walls of the canals begin to thicken, and the area above begins to expand. Blockage of the ducts leads to stagnation of bile. It becomes thicker, creating ideal conditions for the development of infections, so the appearance of strictures often precedes the development of additional diseases.

Dilation of the intrahepatic bile ducts occurs due to:

Dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts occurs due to the formation of stones

Changes in the bile ducts accompany the symptoms:

nausea;
gagging;
soreness on the right side of the abdomen;
fever;
jaundice;
rumbling in the gall bladder;
flatulence.

All this indicates that the biliary system is not working properly. There are several most common diseases:

Housing and communal services The formation of stones is possible not only in the bladder, but also in the ducts. In many cases, the patient does not experience any discomfort for a long time. Therefore, stones may remain undetected for several years and continue to grow. If stones block the bile ducts or injure the walls of the canal, then the developing inflammatory process is difficult to ignore. Pain, high fever, nausea and vomiting will not allow you to do this.
Dyskinesia. This disease is characterized by a decrease in the motor function of the bile ducts. Disruption of bile flow occurs due to changes in pressure in different areas of the channels. This disease can develop independently, as well as accompany other pathologies of the gallbladder and its ducts. A similar process causes pain in the right hypochondrium and heaviness that occurs a couple of hours after eating.
Cholangitis. It is usually caused by acute cholecystitis, but the inflammatory process can also occur independently. Symptoms of cholangitis include: fever, increased sweating, pain in the right side, nausea and vomiting, and jaundice develops.
Acute cholecystitis. The inflammation is infectious in nature and occurs with pain and fever. At the same time, the size of the gallbladder increases, and deterioration of the condition occurs after consuming fatty, heavy meals and alcoholic beverages.
Cancerous tumors of the canals. The disease most often affects the intrahepatic bile ducts or pathways at the porta hepatis. With cholangiocarcinoma, yellowing of the skin, itching in the liver area, fever, nausea and other symptoms appear.

In addition to acquired diseases, congenital developmental anomalies, such as aplasia or hypoplasia of the gallbladder, can complicate the functioning of the gallbladder.

Anomalies of the bile

An anomaly in the development of the gallbladder ducts is diagnosed in almost 20% of people. Much less common is the complete absence of channels intended for the removal of bile. Congenital defects entail disruption of the biliary system and digestive processes. Most congenital defects do not pose a serious threat and can be treated; severe forms of pathologies are extremely rare.

Duct anomalies include the following pathologies:

the appearance of diverticula on the walls of the canals;
cystic lesions of the ducts;
the presence of kinks and partitions in the channels;
hypoplasia and atresia of the biliary tract.

Anomalies of the bubble itself, according to their characteristics, are conventionally divided into groups depending on:

localization of the bile;
changes in organ structure;
deviations in shape;
quantities.

An organ can be formed, but have a different location from the normal one and be located:

in the right place, but across;
inside the liver;
under the left hepatic lobe;
in the left hypochondrium.

The pathology is accompanied by disturbances in bladder contractions. The organ is more susceptible to inflammatory processes and the formation of stones.

A “wandering” bubble can occupy various positions:

inside the abdominal region, but almost not in contact with the liver and covered by abdominal tissues;
completely separated from the liver and communicating with it through a long mesentery;
with a complete lack of fixation, which increases the likelihood of kinks and torsion (lack of surgical intervention leads to the death of the patient).

It is extremely rare for doctors to diagnose a newborn with a congenital absence of the gallbladder. Gallbladder agenesis can take several forms:

Complete absence of the organ and extrahepatic bile ducts.
Aplasia, in which, due to underdevelopment of the organ, there is only a small process that is not capable of functioning and full-fledged ducts.
Bladder hypoplasia. The diagnosis indicates that the organ is present and capable of functioning, but some of its tissues or areas have not fully developed in the child in the prenatal period.

Functional excesses go away on their own, but true ones require medical intervention

Agenesis in almost half of cases leads to the formation of stones and dilation of the large bile duct.

An abnormal, non-pear-shaped shape of the gallbladder appears due to constrictions, kinks in the neck or body of the organ. If the bubble, which should be pear-shaped, resembles a snail, then there has been a bend that has disrupted the longitudinal axis. The gallbladder collapses towards the duodenum, and adhesions form at the point of contact. Functional excesses go away on their own, but true ones require medical intervention.

If the pear-shaped shape changes due to constrictions, then the vesical body narrows in places or completely. With such deviations, stagnation of bile occurs, causing the appearance of stones and accompanied by severe pain.

In addition to these shapes, the pouch can resemble a Latin S, a ball or a boomerang.

The biliary bile weakens the organ and leads to dropsy, stones and tissue inflammation. The gallbladder may be:

multi-chamber, in which the bottom of the organ is partially or completely separated from its body;
bilobed, when two separate lobules are attached to one bladder neck;
ductular, two bladders with their ducts function simultaneously;
triplicative, three organs united by a serous membrane.

How are bile ducts treated?

When treating blocked ducts, two methods are used:

conservative;
operational.

The main thing in this case is surgical intervention, and conservative agents are used as auxiliaries.

Sometimes, a calculus or mucous clot can leave the duct on its own, but this does not mean complete relief from the problem. The disease will return without treatment, so it is necessary to combat the cause of such stagnation.

In severe cases, the patient is not operated on, but his condition is stabilized and only after that the day of surgery is set. To stabilize the condition, patients are prescribed:

starvation;
installation of a nasogastric tube;
antibacterial drugs in the form of antibiotics with a wide spectrum of action;
droppers with electrolytes, protein drugs, fresh frozen plasma and others, mainly for detoxifying the body;
antispasmodic drugs;
vitamin products.

To speed up the flow of bile, non-invasive methods are used:

extraction of stones using a probe followed by drainage of the canals;
percutaneous puncture of the bladder;
cholecystostomy;
choledochostomy;
percutaneous hepatic drainage.

Normalization of the patient's condition allows the use of surgical treatment methods: laparotomy, when the abdominal cavity is completely opened, or laparoscopy performed using an endoscope.

In the presence of strictures, treatment with the endoscopic method allows you to expand the narrowed ducts, insert a stent and guarantee that the channels are provided with normal lumen of the ducts. The operation also allows you to remove cysts and cancerous tumors that usually affect the common hepatic duct. This method is less traumatic and even allows for cholecystectomy. Opening the abdominal cavity is resorted to only in cases where laparoscopy does not allow the necessary manipulations to be performed.

Congenital malformations, as a rule, do not require treatment, but if the gallbladder is deformed or prolapsed due to some injury, what should you do? Displacement of an organ while maintaining its functionality will not worsen health, but if pain and other symptoms appear, it is necessary:

maintain bed rest;
drink enough liquid (preferably without gas);
adhere to the diet and foods approved by the doctor, cook correctly;
take antibiotics, antispasmodics and analgesics, as well as vitamin supplements and choleretic drugs;
attend physiotherapy, do physical therapy and massage to relieve the condition.

Despite the fact that the organs of the biliary system are relatively small, they do a tremendous job. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor their condition and consult a doctor when the first symptoms of disease appear, especially if there are any congenital anomalies.

Video

What to do if a stone appears in the gall bladder.

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Interruptions in the functioning of the bile ducts affect the performance of the entire body

What is the gallbladder for?

The functions of the gallbladder in the human body are:

accumulation of bile fluid in the organ cavity;
thickening and preservation of liver secretions;
excretion through the bile ducts into the small intestine;
protecting the body from irritating components.

Bile production is carried out by liver cells and does not stop day or night. Why does a person need a gallbladder and why can’t we do without this connecting link when transporting liver fluid?

The accumulation and excretion of bile is carried out as follows:

Therefore, the role of the gallbladder in the human body is to accumulate and store liver secretions until the right time.

the common hepatic duct transfers the secretion to the biliary organ, where it accumulates and is stored until the right moment;
the bubble begins to contract rhythmically;
the bladder valve opens;
the opening of the intracanal valves is provoked, the sphincter of the major duodendral papilla relaxes;
Bile travels along the common bile duct to the intestines.

Gallbladder dysfunction affects your health and can cause weakness, nausea, vomiting, itching and other unpleasant symptoms. In Chinese medicine, it is customary to consider the gallbladder not as a separate organ, but as a component of one system with the liver, which is responsible for the timely release of bile.

external, passing from the corner of the eye through the temporal region, forehead and back of the head, then descending to the armpit and lower along the front of the thigh to the ring toe;
internal, starting at the shoulders and going through the diaphragm, stomach and liver, ending with a branch in the bladder.

Stimulating points on the meridian of the biliary organ helps not only improve digestion and improve its functioning. Impact on the points of the head relieves:

migraines;
arthritis;
diseases of the visual organs.

Also, through the points of the body, you can improve cardiac activity, and with help. Areas on the legs - muscle activity.

The structure of the gallbladder and biliary tract

What is the gallbladder, what is its structure and functions? This organ has the shape of a sac, which is located on the surface of the liver, more precisely, in its lower part.

The shape of the gallbladder has a pear-shaped outline, a narrowed top and an expansion at the bottom of the organ. There are three parts in the structure of the gallbladder:

a narrow neck where bile enters through the common hepatic duct;
body, widest part;
the bottom, which is easily determined by ultrasound.

The organ has a small volume and is capable of holding about 50 ml of fluid. Excess bile is excreted through the small duct.

The walls of the bubble have the following structure:

Serous outer layer.
Epithelial layer.
Mucous membrane.

The ducts perform a transport function and ensure the movement of bile from the liver through the bladder to the duodenum. Ducts run to the right and left of the liver and form the common hepatic duct.

The anatomy of the gallbladder and biliary tract is a complex system of channels that ensure the movement of bile within the human body

The anatomy of the biliary tract includes two types of ducts: extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts.

The structure of the bile ducts outside the liver consists of several channels:

Cystic duct connecting the liver with the bladder.
The common bile duct (CBD or common bile duct), starting at the place where the hepatic and cystic ducts connect and going to the duodenum.

How does the gallbladder work?

lipase;
aminolase;
trypsin.

Bile appears in the liver. Passing through the choleretic channel, it changes its color, structure and decreases in quantity. Those. bile is formed in the bladder, which is different from the liver secretion.

Concentration of incoming bile from the liver occurs by removing water and electrolytes from it.

The principle of operation of the gallbladder is described by the following points:

Collection of bile, which is produced by the liver.
Thickening and storage of secretions.
The direction of fluid through the duct into the intestine, where food is processed and broken down.

Diagnosis of bile ducts

Failure in the functioning of the biliary system most often occurs due to the formation of some kind of obstacle in the canals. The reason for this may be:

cholelithiasis
tumors;
inflammation of the bladder or bile ducts;
strictures and scars that may affect the common bile duct.

Ultrasonography shows the presence of stones and how many of them have formed in the ducts.

X-ray. Not able to give specifics about the pathology, but helps confirm the presence of a suspected pathology.
Ultrasound. Ultrasonography shows the presence of stones and how many of them have formed in the ducts.
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). It combines x-ray and endoscopic examination and is the most effective method for studying diseases of the biliary system.
CT. In case of cholelithiasis, this study helps to clarify some details that cannot be determined with ultrasound.
MRI. A method similar to CT.

In addition to these studies, a minimally invasive method for detecting blockage of the choleretic ducts can be used - laparoscopy.

Causes of bile duct diseases

Disturbances in the functioning of the bladder have various causes and can be triggered by:

The narrowing of the lumen of the bile ducts disrupts the return flow of secretions to the duodenum. The causes of the disease in this case may be:

mechanical trauma caused during surgery;
obesity;
inflammatory processes;
the appearance of cancerous tumors and metastases in the liver.

Dilation of the intrahepatic bile ducts occurs due to:

Changes in the bile ducts accompany the symptoms:

nausea;
gagging;
soreness on the right side of the abdomen;
fever;
jaundice;
rumbling in the gall bladder;
flatulence.

All this indicates that the biliary system is not working properly. There are several most common diseases:

Housing and communal services The formation of stones is possible not only in the bladder, but also in the ducts. In many cases, the patient does not experience any discomfort for a long time. Therefore, stones may remain undetected for several years and continue to grow. If stones block the bile ducts or injure the walls of the canal, then the developing inflammatory process is difficult to ignore. Pain, high fever, nausea and vomiting will not allow you to do this.
Dyskinesia. This disease is characterized by a decrease in the motor function of the bile ducts. Disruption of bile flow occurs due to changes in pressure in different areas of the channels. This disease can develop independently, as well as accompany other pathologies of the gallbladder and its ducts. A similar process causes pain in the right hypochondrium and heaviness that occurs a couple of hours after eating.
Cholangitis. It is usually caused by acute cholecystitis, but the inflammatory process can also occur independently. Symptoms of cholangitis include: fever, increased sweating, pain in the right side, nausea and vomiting, and jaundice develops.
Acute cholecystitis. The inflammation is infectious in nature and occurs with pain and fever. At the same time, the size of the gallbladder increases, and deterioration of the condition occurs after consuming fatty, heavy meals and alcoholic beverages.
Cancerous tumors of the canals. The disease most often affects the intrahepatic bile ducts or pathways at the porta hepatis. With cholangiocarcinoma, yellowing of the skin, itching in the liver area, fever, nausea and other symptoms appear.

In addition to acquired diseases, congenital developmental anomalies, such as aplasia or hypoplasia of the gallbladder, can complicate the functioning of the gallbladder.

Anomalies of the bile

Duct anomalies include the following pathologies:

the appearance of diverticula on the walls of the canals;
cystic lesions of the ducts;
the presence of kinks and partitions in the channels;
hypoplasia and atresia of the biliary tract.

Anomalies of the bubble itself, according to their characteristics, are conventionally divided into groups depending on:

localization of the bile;
changes in organ structure;
deviations in shape;
quantities.

An organ can be formed, but have a different location from the normal one and be located:

in the right place, but across;
inside the liver;
under the left hepatic lobe;
in the left hypochondrium.

The pathology is accompanied by disturbances in bladder contractions. The organ is more susceptible to inflammatory processes and the formation of stones.

A “wandering” bubble can occupy various positions:

inside the abdominal region, but almost not in contact with the liver and covered by abdominal tissues;
completely separated from the liver and communicating with it through a long mesentery;
with a complete lack of fixation, which increases the likelihood of kinks and torsion (lack of surgical intervention leads to the death of the patient).

It is extremely rare for doctors to diagnose a newborn with a congenital absence of the gallbladder. Gallbladder agenesis can take several forms:

Complete absence of the organ and extrahepatic bile ducts.
Aplasia, in which, due to underdevelopment of the organ, there is only a small process that is not capable of functioning and full-fledged ducts.
Bladder hypoplasia. The diagnosis indicates that the organ is present and capable of functioning, but some of its tissues or areas have not fully developed in the child in the prenatal period.

Functional excesses go away on their own, but true ones require medical intervention

Agenesis in almost half of cases leads to the formation of stones and dilation of the large bile duct.

In addition to these shapes, the pouch can resemble a Latin S, a ball or a boomerang.

The biliary bile weakens the organ and leads to dropsy, stones and tissue inflammation. The gallbladder may be:

multi-chamber, in which the bottom of the organ is partially or completely separated from its body;
bilobed, when two separate lobules are attached to one bladder neck;
ductular, two bladders with their ducts function simultaneously;
triplicative, three organs united by a serous membrane.

How are bile ducts treated?

When treating blocked ducts, two methods are used:

conservative;
operational.

The main thing in this case is surgical intervention, and conservative agents are used as auxiliaries.

Sometimes, a calculus or mucous clot can leave the duct on its own, but this does not mean complete relief from the problem. The disease will return without treatment, so it is necessary to combat the cause of such stagnation.

In severe cases, the patient is not operated on, but his condition is stabilized and only after that the day of surgery is set. To stabilize the condition, patients are prescribed:

starvation;
installation of a nasogastric tube;
antibacterial drugs in the form of antibiotics with a wide spectrum of action;
droppers with electrolytes, protein drugs, fresh frozen plasma and others, mainly for detoxifying the body;
antispasmodic drugs;
vitamin products.

To speed up the flow of bile, non-invasive methods are used:

extraction of stones using a probe followed by drainage of the canals;
percutaneous puncture of the bladder;
cholecystostomy;
choledochostomy;
percutaneous hepatic drainage.

Normalization of the patient's condition allows the use of surgical treatment methods: laparotomy, when the abdominal cavity is completely opened, or laparoscopy performed using an endoscope.

maintain bed rest;
drink enough liquid (preferably without gas);
adhere to the diet and foods approved by the doctor, cook correctly;
take antibiotics, antispasmodics and analgesics, as well as vitamin supplements and choleretic drugs;
attend physiotherapy, do physical therapy and massage to relieve the condition.

Video

What to do if a stone appears in the gall bladder.

Source: pechen.org

Pain on the right side of the body may appear if the gallbladder, liver, stomach, pancreas or intestines are not in order. The most intense pain occurs with biliary colic and it is difficult to relieve. In order not to start a pathological process in the gallbladder, it is important to contact a gastroenterologist at the first painful sensation.

That is why it is necessary to know where a person’s gallbladder is located. And since pain in pathologies can radiate and be felt not only in the area of projection, you also need to know the functions of the gallbladder in the body in order to recognize the disease by other symptoms.

Anatomy and location of the organ

The gallbladder is shaped like a pear and is located on the visceral surface of the liver in a special depression that separates the two lobes of the liver. In the anatomy of the gallbladder, there are three sections: the bottom, the body, and the neck. The bottom of the organ is located near the lower edge of the liver, and the neck faces the gate of the gland and is located together with the ducts in the duplication of the hepatoduodenal ligament.

In the area where the body meets the neck, a bend is formed, so the neck lies at an angle to the body. Between the transition to the cystic duct there is a depression called Hartmann's pouch. The normal size of the gallbladder in adults is: length 8–14 cm, width 3–5 cm. The organ holds 60–100 ml of liver secretion. In children, normal organ sizes are in an even larger range.

So, in a child 2–5 years old, the gall bladder is 3–5.2 cm long and 1.4–2.3 cm wide, and in a teenager it is 3.8–8 cm long and 1.3–2.8 cm wide. If the organ is larger, then this indicates obstruction of the bile ducts or acute cholecystitis. A decrease in size occurs with viral hepatitis (liver inflammation) or chronic cholecystitis. The organ wall includes the mucous membrane, muscular, subserous and serous layers. The mucous tissue is sensitive to adverse events occurring in the body, which is why it looks swollen and flaky.

Bundles of muscle fibers are located in the longitudinal and circular directions. There are gaps between them, and then in these places the mucous tissue connects with the serous tissue. This structure of the gallbladder increases the risk of bile leaking into the abdominal cavity (peritonitis) without compromising the integrity of the organ. There is less muscle tissue in the bottom area, and more in the neck area.

The photo shows the location of the organ relative to the liver

The blood supply to the organ occurs through the cystic artery, which comes from the right branch of the hepatic artery and at the neck of the bladder divides into two branches, one of them goes to the upper surface of the bladder, and the other to the lower. Lymph nodes are located to the left of the bladder neck and near the duodenum. When the bladder becomes inflamed, the nodes enlarge and block the common bile duct.

The innervation of the biliary system comes from the celiac, inferior phrenic plexuses and the anterior trunk of the vagus nerve. This means that diseases of the stomach, small intestine or irritation of the vagus nerve (which happens with a diaphragmatic hernia) can provoke malfunction of the sphincter of Oddi and inflammatory disorders in the bladder itself, and vice versa.

Patients often ask which side the gallbladder is on. The gallbladder is located on the right side of the body, under the ribs. In front of the gallbladder is the liver, on the left side is the pylorus, and on the right are the loops of the small intestine.

The bottom of the bladder, as a rule, extends from under the lower edge of the liver closest to the peritoneum by 2–3 cm and touches the anterior abdominal wall. This arrangement of the gallbladder and its ducts gives a projection of pain to the right hypochondrium and epigastric region.

Organ function

The function of the gallbladder in the human body is to store bile, which comes continuously from the liver. Here the liver secretion settles, becomes more concentrated, and then, when food enters the digestive tract, it is reflexively released into the duodenum.

A person can live a full life without a bladder, then the question arises why a gallbladder is needed. The fact is that the liver constantly produces bile; the secretion enters the bladder through the ducts, where it lingers for several hours (until food arrives). Liver bile is golden yellow in color, its pH ranges from 7.3–8, and its relative density is 1.008–1.015.

In the gallbladder, bicarbonates are absorbed, due to which the pH level decreases to 6–7, and the density increases to 1.026–1.048, which means that such a secretion will better perform its tasks: stimulate the functioning of the intestines, pancreas, have a bacteriostatic effect, break down fats , promote the absorption of water-insoluble fatty acids, cholesterol, vitamins, neutralize pepsin and create conditions for the activation of pancreatic juice enzymes.

If the gallbladder is not functioning well, a cholecystectomy (removal) is performed. In this case, the liver secretion constantly enters the duodenum and, in the absence of food there, begins to affect the intestinal tissue. Since bile stimulates the secretion of pancreatic juice and gastric mucus, their production is also disrupted.

In the absence of a gallbladder, the digestion process slows down, and hence flatulence, dysbacteriosis, colitis, enteritis, and reflux.

Features of pain syndrome

The gallbladder hurts if inflammatory or degenerative processes occur in it. Most often, pathological processes develop as a result of blockage of the biliary tract with a stone or due to dyskinesia. Because the gallbladder hurts, one can assume a pathology. Against the background of pathological conditions, biliary (hepatic) colic occurs, which is characterized by severe pain.

With biliary colic, pain often appears against a background of complete calm. It is felt on the right under the ribs in the area of the projection of the gallbladder, less often in the upper abdomen.

The pain syndrome spreads to the area of the right shoulder blade, collarbone, neck, and shoulder. In some situations, pain is felt in the area of the heart and the person thinks it is an angina attack. The pain is described as cutting, stabbing, tearing.

An attack of hepatic colic is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting of bile (it is not abundant and does not bring relief), and flatulence. Palpation reveals tension in the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall. If vomiting is continuous, this indicates involvement of the pancreas in the pathological process.

Pain in the biliary tract lasts from a quarter of an hour to 60 minutes

If the pain persists longer, then this is a sign of complications. This is also indicated by an increase in temperature above 38 0 C. As a rule, colic occurs after eating spicy, fatty, heavy foods. Colic does not appear out of nowhere; patients indicate that they previously had pain in the right hypochondrium of varying duration and intensity. As the pathology develops, episodes of biliary colic become more frequent and their intensity increases.

Cholecystitis

In chronic or acute cholecystitis, constant aching or sharp pain is felt in the area of the gallbladder. The pain can radiate to the right shoulder blade, shoulder, neck, and less often the pain syndrome spreads to the left half of the body. Biliary colic usually appears after drinking alcohol, fatty or spicy foods, or severe stress.

Sometimes patients complain of a metallic taste or bitterness in the mouth, belching, flatulence, nausea, bowel dysfunction, insomnia or irritability, low-grade fever. Acute cholecystitis, with a mild course, can proceed quickly (5–10 days) and end in recovery. If an infectious agent enters the body, the disease can develop into purulent cholecystitis. This is dangerous and may have nonspecific manifestations.

The pain syndrome with purulent cholecystitis is very pronounced, determined in the right half of the abdomen, but can spread to the right shoulder blade and shoulder.

During the episode, the patient assumes a forced body position (“fetal position”), turns pale, and sweats profusely. In addition, body temperature rises, chills and tachycardia occur. Usually, with the disease, other symptoms appear that indicate damage to the abdominal cavity (flatulence, nausea, vomiting of bile, heaviness in the abdomen).

Since the organs of the human digestive system are interconnected, inflammation from one often spreads to others. For example, cholecystitis can cause the development of pancreatitis and gastritis, and vice versa. The fact is that the ducts from the pancreas and biliary system open into the duodenum and, if there are disturbances, pancreatic juice can penetrate into the bladder, which causes a strong inflammatory reaction.

When the gallbladder becomes inflamed, biliary function is impaired

Cholelithiasis

Stones can be cholesterol, calcium or bilirubin. Cholesterol is in a bound state, but if there are not enough binding bile acids, it precipitates. At first, small stones form, but gradually they increase in size, and under certain conditions they can clog the bile ducts.

In this case, bile does not penetrate the duodenum, the pressure in the bladder begins to increase, the stones injure the mucous membrane, which is why the gallbladder hurts. In developed countries, gallstone disease is diagnosed in a third of women and a quarter of men. The symptoms of gallstone disease depend on the location of the stones and their size.

So, if the stone is located at the bottom or in the area of the body of the organ and there is no inflammation, then there is no pain. If the stone is located close to the neck, then moderate pain occurs. If the calculus reaches the ducts, then a severe attack occurs, since the outflow of bile is disrupted, spasm and ischemia of the wall occurs. The sections of the ducts that are located above are greatly stretched when the stone moves, which causes increased peristalsis, so the pain does not stop until the stone reaches the intestines.

When cholelithiasis occurs, biliary colic occurs, which is characterized by severe, acute, sudden pain under the right rib. The nature of the pain is cutting or stabbing. After a few hours, the pain concentrates in the area where the gallbladder is projected. The cause of the pain is a spasm of the gallbladder muscles.

When the bile duct is completely blocked, the liver ducts expand, the organ enlarges, which causes a pain reaction in the overstretched capsule. Such pain is constant and dull in nature and is often accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the right hypochondrium.

Biliary dyskinesia

With pathology, the motility of the organ is impaired, which is why the liver secretion stagnates. In some cases, dyskinesia occurs as a result of spasm of the smooth muscles of the bladder. The disease can be primary, that is, independent (as a result of hormonal imbalance, stress), or secondary, developing against the background of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

With hypertensive dyskinesia, the main symptom is acute colicky pain under the ribs on the right, which radiates to the right shoulder blade or shoulder. Pain occurs after a violation of diet, physical activity, or in a stressful situation. Additional symptoms are nausea, vomiting, stool disorders, and polyuria.

The pain may go away on its own or can be quickly relieved with medications that relieve spasms. In the absence of an attack, the patient’s state of health is satisfactory; spastic pains periodically appear in the right hypochondrium, upper abdomen or near the navel, but they quickly pass.

With hypokinetic dyskinesia, a constant, not strong, dull or aching pain appears in the right hypochondrium, and there is also a feeling of heaviness and stretching in this area. After strong experiences or eating, dyspeptic disorders appear: bitterness in the mouth, belching, nausea, flatulence, stool disorders, loss of appetite.

When palpating the area where the gallbladder is located, the pain is moderate

When a pathology occurs in the gall bladder or biliary tract, indigestion is sure to occur, since what the gall bladder is responsible for, namely the rapid and high-quality digestion of food, is impossible. Therefore, stool disturbances, bloating, nausea, and vomiting can be attributed to the clinical manifestations of cholecystitis.

If pain appears in the right hypochondrium, then a comprehensive diagnosis is required. The size of the gallbladder can normally vary from person to person, so pain and tension in the abdominal wall are of greater importance during palpation. An ultrasound examination shows that the wall of the gallbladder is thickened (more than 4 mm), with a double contour.

On X-rays, stones are clearly visible, and with the help of contrast, you can see how the organ contracts. Blood counts allow you to assess the level of inflammation and determine whether there is a disturbance in the functioning of the pancreas. If pathological processes occur in the organ and it does not perform what the gallbladder is needed for, then doctors recommend cholecystectomy.

Only by removing the organ can one avoid the spread of inflammation throughout the hepatobiliary and digestive system. The role of the gallbladder in the human body is significant, but after surgery the digestive tract adapts and is able to function normally.

The gallbladder (GB) is located on the visceral (lower) surface of the liver. The line that separates the right and left lobes of the latter is located in the bed of the gallbladder.

The gallbladder is a reservoir for receiving and concentrating bile. Normally its dimensions are:

length - 9 cm, but can range from 8 to 14;
width - 3 cm, can reach 5 cm;
volume - from 30 to 80 ml;
wall thickness - 2-3 mm.

As it fills, it can stretch and hold up to 200 ml of bile. Depending on the filling, the organ takes a cylindrical, pear-shaped or oval shape. A healthy organ has a bluish-greenish tint and translucent walls. As its condition worsens and becomes inflamed, it darkens and the walls become opaque and thicken.

The gallbladder has three segments that are not anatomically demarcated: the fundus, the body and the neck. The cystic duct departs from the neck, which then connects with the common hepatic duct. As a result of their fusion, a common bile duct is formed, through which bile passes into the duodenum.

Normally, a healthy organ is not palpable. The bottom of the gallbladder is covered with peritoneum and can be palpated if there are any diseases in it. The body is not completely covered by peritoneum; its upper part is in contact with the liver, from which it is separated by connective tissue.

The tissue contains blood and lymphatic vessels, nerve fibers, and sometimes accessory hepatic ducts. If it is necessary to remove the gallbladder, the surgeon is faced with the task of separating the loose connective tissue to prevent blood loss. During inflammation, the tissue between the liver and gallbladder undergoes obliteration. Then the task becomes more complicated, since cholecystectomy may affect the liver parenchyma.

The neck may have a protrusion, the so-called Hartmann's pouch. But normally the cervix does not have a pocket; most often it acquires this shape during inflammatory processes.

The cystic duct extends from the neck of the bladder; at its exit there is the Lutkens sphincter, with the help of which the excretion of bile is controlled. The length of the cystic duct is 4–6 cm, sometimes it can reach 8–11 cm. The diameter is usually 2-3 mm.

The blood supply to the gallbladder passes through the cystic artery, which arises in one or two trunks from the hepatic artery or its branch located on the right.

The wall of the organ (in the mucous and serous membranes) contains a network of lymphatic vessels. The submucosa also contains a plexus of lymphatic capillaries.

The location of the gallbladder depends on age and body type. Relative to the spine, it is located at the height of 1 and/or 2 lumbar vertebrae.

Read also:
Gallbladder – signs and symptoms.
Read more about hepatitis A.

Bile is produced in the liver constantly and is consumed as food is consumed. Since we do not eat 24 hours a day, bile reserves enter the gallbladder.
During the day, the liver produces up to one liter of bile. It can, bypassing the bladder, immediately enter the common bile duct. But normally, most of it accumulates in the bladder. There are cystic bile and hepatic bile.
In the bladder, bile is concentrated tenfold. 50 ml of gallbladder bile is equivalent to 500 ml of liver bile.
When food enters the duodenum, hormones (cholecystokinin, secretin, endorphins) are released, which cause the gallbladder to contract and the sphincter of Oddi to open - bile is released from the bladder.
When the contents of the intestines become alkaline under the influence of bile, the secretion of hormones stops and the flow of bile stops.
Despite its simple functions, the gallbladder is susceptible to diseases and can cause trouble for its owner.
Deformations
The anatomy of the gallbladder begins to interest us if there are any problems with the organ. Diseases of the gallbladder and biliary tract are not very common, but they are very common. According to some data, up to 30 percent of women and 10 percent of men after 40 years of age suffer from them. The most common diseases are:
biliary dyskinesia;
cholelithiasis;
cholecystitis (most often the disease is a consequence of the presence of stones).

Polyps and tumors are much less common.
Acquired diseases are prevalent mainly in developed countries, where there are no food shortages and the majority of the population has access to meat products rich in cholesterol. Diseases are also associated with overeating, obesity, and lifestyle. In the USA and Europe, up to 10–15% of the population is affected, in African countries - no more than 2%.
In Russia, in some regions, gastrointestinal tract diseases are detected in 40–50 percent of ultrasound scans.
As a result of diseases, anatomical deformations of the organ develop. The following acquired deformities are distinguished:
kinks of the gallbladder;
enlargement (decrease) of an organ;
diverticulum - protrusion of the wall of the bladder;
wall deformation.

Gallbladder kinks are a common pathology in adults. The deformity usually occurs at the junction of the cervix with the body, but can also occur in other areas, which impairs the flow of bile. It stagnates and stones gradually begin to grow.
Bladder bending is one of the causes of cholelithiasis. And the causes of excesses in adults can be:
physiological inflection - anatomical prolapse of organs in old age;
enlarged gallbladder or liver;
obesity;
fasting or overeating;
functional inflection that occurs due to overload and heavy lifting.

Diverticulum - a protrusion of the wall of the gallbladder - is very rare, more often as an acquired form. It may not manifest itself for many years. And it can cause stagnation of bile with the formation of stones.
Deformation of the walls - their thickening - occurs as a result of chronic cholecystitis. There are calculous cholecystitis (with the presence of stones in the bladder) and acalculous cholecystitis. The walls are more than 4 mm thick; the organ cannot be palpated during palpation, since it most often decreases in size due to sclerosis and scarring of the tissue.
In case of chronic cholecystitis, if treatment does not help, doctors recommend cholecystectomy, otherwise the gallbladder ceases to perform its functions.
"Disabled" organ
The term “disabled” gallbladder was coined by radiologists. When the contrast agent did not enter the organ, they said that it was turned off, that is, it did not function, did not accumulate bile and did not release it. The reasons may be:
Blockage of the bile duct by a stone or scar.
The entrance to the residential complex is closed due to a bend.
Filling with stones.
Organ sclerosis. Due to inflammation, the muscles have atrophied and the bladder is filled with scar tissue.
The deposition of calcium salts on the walls leads to a condition where the walls become hard, “porcelain-like.”

A disabled gallbladder in most cases requires surgery - cholecystectomy.
Is a gallbladder necessary at all?
The structure of the gallbladder and bile ducts is not the most perfect structure in the human body. Their inflammation can lead to diseases of the duodenum and pancreas.
Many people suffer from gallbladder diseases and eventually decide to undergo cholecystectomy. In Russia, up to 600 thousand such operations are performed per year, in the USA - more than a million.
And many people have a question: is this organ needed at all? After all, bile can flow freely into the intestines without a reservoir. There are two polar opposite opinions.
Surgeons are convinced that we needed it when a person ate irregularly, and the gallbladder helped digest food when it was possible to eat enough. In modern conditions, the gallbladder is not particularly required, nor are fat reserves.
Naturopaths assure that it is impossible to do without it, and it must be protected like the apple of your eye. After cholecystectomy, bile will allegedly continuously flow into the intestines and irritate it.
We really need a healthy bladder; without it, digestion will not be as comfortable. But if the gallbladder has ceased to perform its functions, there is an inflammatory process in it, it causes suffering, then such an organ is absolutely not needed by the body. In addition, it becomes dangerous for the organs and tissues surrounding it.
The bile ducts can store bile and take over its function.

If you don't know where an organ like the gallbladder is, it means you've never had problems with it. However, if your health is not good, especially in terms of digestion, you should figure out what functions are inherent in it.

Main function of the gallbladder

The gallbladder is located under the liver

The gallbladder is an organ located on the lower surface of the liver and adjacent to it. It performs a storage function, which, as the name implies, means the accumulation of bile coming from the liver.

This organ is located in the right longitudinal hepatic groove and has a relatively small size - its length varies from 8 to 14 cm, and its width is no more than 5 cm. In addition to this main function, the gallbladder has a number of others, no less important:

Concentration - bile coming from the liver to the gallbladder is concentrated and changes its density
Absorption - bile components can be absorbed through the wall of the organ, which helps cleanse the body
Evacuation - as a result of contraction of the gallbladder during the digestion process, bile is released into the duodenum
Valve - depending on the processes occurring in the body, it ensures the passage or obstruction of bile into the intestines.

These functions are important, however, in addition to them, there are a number of others - with the direct participation of this organ, the lipase enzyme is activated, on which the digestion of fats depends, and the growth of pathogenic intestinal microflora slows down.

Violations in the work of the body

Due to its very modest size, this small organ and the importance it has in the human body are often underestimated. However, if its functioning is disrupted, a person has serious problems. The reasons for the malfunction of this organ can be considered:

Psycho-emotional factor - any stress, emotional overload, nervous shock and other problems associated with the mental sphere of life negatively affect the functioning of the biliary system.
Hormonal imbalance or hormonal disorders. In the female body, this cause is most often provoked by the onset of the menstrual cycle or menopause. The hormonal balance is also greatly influenced by the state of pregnancy and subsequent childbirth.
Pathologies of the liver and kidneys, formation of stones (calculi).
Diabetes.
Inflammation caused by an advanced infection or severe cold.

The main problem of disruption of the proper functioning of the gallbladder is the accumulation and poor passage of bile, which, in turn, is accompanied by very painful symptoms:

Colic and prolonged spasms
Dull pain in the hypochondrium
Prolonged nausea and vomiting
Bad taste in mouth
Fever, shaking and chills
Constant fatigue.

On average, the body of a healthy adult accumulates about 50 ml of bile in the gallbladder. Up to 30 ml of fluid can accumulate in a child's gallbladder. However, with serious diseases, the volume of accumulated bile increases, which may indicate problems associated not only with this organ, but also with the liver.

Diagnosis of diseases in the most effective way is done using ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and gallbladder, including. Radioisotope aspects of diagnostics are used as additional research methods.

Classification of diseases

Gallstones

The main disease of the gallbladder is its dysfunction, that is, disruption of the organ’s functioning. However, the dysfunction itself has two types of classification:

Slow or hypomotor dysfunction. Characteristic symptoms of this dysfunction are a feeling of pressure and fullness, dull aching pain under the ribs on the right, bitterness in the mouth, vomiting and constipation, flatulence and bloating.
Hypermotor or rapid dysfunction. Most often it occurs against a background of increased stress or psycho-emotional overload. Pain with this type of dysfunction often radiates to the back or the heart area, provided that other common symptoms of the pathology of this organ persist.

The symptoms of each type depend not only on the cause of the complication, but also on the stage of development of the disease, on the degree of its neglect.

Treatment methods

The main task in identifying gallbladder pathologies is to normalize and stabilize the patient’s condition. Most often, this is enough to follow bed rest, a special diet and avoid stressful situations. The diet that doctors recommend when problems related to the gallbladder arise allows bile not to stagnate, but to empty all ducts in a timely manner.

The main idea of this diet is to split your daily diet into 5-6 servings of food, provided they are small. In addition, the last meal should be quite late, so that the problem organ disperses bile throughout the body even at night (during sleep). Healthy foods that can and should be consumed on a special diet that restores the functioning of the gallbladder are:

Meat, poultry and fish
Mushroom dishes
Low-fat broths and soups
Products containing natural fats in large quantities.

As a medicinal treatment for diseases, drugs such as atropine sulfate, Besalol and Eufillin help well. They are taken both in the form of intramuscular injections and in the form of capsules and tablets. For severe and persistent pain, it is recommended to take a painkiller - No-shpu or Papazol.

It should be noted that although the dosage of each drug is purely individual, the prescription of the drug for children differs significantly in quantity from the treatment for adults. To obtain more accurate information, you should carefully study the instructions included with the medication or consult your doctor.

Not only medications, but also ordinary herbs and herbs that are more gentle than chemicals will help relieve unpleasant symptoms of the gallbladder.

Herbs such as St. John's wort, valerian and mint, sage, calendula, thyme and chamomile, plantain, flax, celandine, and a number of others improve the performance of the diseased organ. Infusions brewed on the basis of these medicinal herbs can significantly improve the condition of the body (especially if you correctly combine traditional medicine and medications prescribed by a doctor).

Possible problems and complications

Gallbladder removal surgery

In addition to dysfunction of the gallbladder, there are a number of others. Sometimes more serious dangers associated with diseases of this organ:

The inflammatory process that arises in the ducts of the bladder, in the absence of proper treatment, risks turning into a disease such as cholecystitis. Infectious pathogens are most often staphylococci and streptococci, as well as E. coli and many others.
Gallstone disease occurs against the background of decreased production of bile acids and increased cholesterol formation. The disease is characterized by the formation of crystal formations from calcium salts in the gallbladder itself and its ducts. Often, a person suffering from gallstone disease needs surgical intervention.
Various tumors of the organ and its ducts are characterized by symptoms that can easily be confused with chronic cholecystitis - general weakness and malaise, itching and others. If the tumor significantly interferes with a person’s life, urgent surgical intervention is necessary.

An advanced disease can cause the entire organ to be removed.

The consequences of advanced gallbladder disease are always extremely unpleasant and dangerous - if treatment is not started in a timely manner, a person can develop quite serious consequences in the form of disruption of the process of bile outflow, which, in turn, can lead to infectious infection, purulent inflammation of the walls of the organ and various abscesses.

Remember that if problems arise with this organ, you must immediately consult a doctor who, after a thorough examination, will prescribe the appropriate treatment for you.

What does the gallbladder do in the body, what functions does it perform? The answers are in the video:

The gallbladder (GB) is considered to be an organ of the digestive system up to fifty to seventy cubic centimeters in size, which accumulates bile (up to sixty milliliters), regulates its pressure in the ducts, releases it during the absorption of food, thereby carrying out the digestion process.

It should be noted that the location of the gallbladder is as follows: to the right of the liver (on its lower surface), between the third and fourth metatarsal bones, and has the shape of a pear, the end of which comes out from under the liver (at the same time it comes into contact with it and is connected by a network of blood vessels ) in the place where the eighth and ninth ribs connect. Its other end is directed towards the gate of the liver and is covered with visceral peritoneum. The bladder is up to twelve centimeters long and up to five centimeters wide, and consists of muscle cells. In this case, the vessels and peritoneum fix its location, preventing mobility. In some cases, the bubble is wrinkled, contracted or ovoid in shape and can reach large sizes.

It is customary to distinguish between the bottom, body, and neck of the gallbladder; they create a light arc, the ends of which point down to the left side. When a person assumes a vertical position, the bottom of the bladder is located below all the other three parts, then comes the body of the bladder, and behind it is the neck. Thus, the bottom of the gallbladder is placed in front of the liver (at its edge); in rare cases, it does not reach the edge of the liver or is covered by its parenchyma.

The body of the gallbladder is almost completely covered by the peritoneum and is adjacent to the transverse colon. More medially are the pylorus and duodenum. If the position is lateral, then the gallbladder will be located closer to the vertical part of the duodenum, and its bottom will touch the right kidney.

The neck of the gallbladder forms an angle, sloping forward, it is adjacent to the left side of the bladder and touches the right branch of the portal vein.

It should be noted that when food enters the duodenum, the gallbladder (which side of the body it is located on, we know), contracts, secretes bile, which enters the intestine through the ducts. In this case, the bile ducts are located between the renal ligaments, on the right side of the renal artery, they are directed downward and connect to the pancreatic duct.

There are some malformations of the gallbladder, these include congenital anomalies, for example, changes in its size and position. Most often, with developmental defects, the gallbladder is located incorrectly or is completely absent. In this case, both its size and capacity change. Anomalies in the development of the gallbladder may be accompanied by pain in the region of the ribs on the right side or occur without symptoms.

It should be noted that the bladder has three layers: the mucous membrane, the muscular layer and the fibrous layer, consisting of connective tissue and peritoneal cover. The muscle layer is not sufficiently developed, the mucous membrane is dotted with short villi. Its walls contain arteries, veins, blood vessels and nerves.

It should be borne in mind that the location of the gallbladder changes depending on the age and physique of the person. It is usually located on the anterior abdominal wall in the place where the right parasteral line and the line connecting the ends of the ribs (tenths) intersect or at the level of 1-11 vertebrae.

Thus, it became known where the gallbladder is located. Let us note once again that it performs an important function as it participates in the digestion process. If for some reason the gallbladder is removed, the bile flows slowly and its bactericidal properties do not appear, so the microflora in the intestines is disrupted, which causes pain in the abdominal area. All functions of the bladder in this case are transferred to the bile ducts.