Gallbladder

Gallbladder hangs under the liver like a greenish pear-shaped sac. Bile produced by liver cells flows through hepatic ducts and either travels straight to the duodenum or detours into the gallbladder for storage. While resting between meals, the gallbladder concentrates bile by absorbing water and electrolytes, making the fluid more potent for the next meal.

When fatty or protein-rich food enters the duodenum, the hormone cholecystokinin signals the gallbladder to contract. Bile is pushed through the cystic duct into the common bile duct, joining pancreatic secretions before entering the intestine. Bile salts act like detergents, emulsifying large fat droplets into tiny micelles that enzymes can access easily.

Bile also carries waste products such as bilirubin from old red blood cells and excess cholesterol. Normally these components exit the body in feces, giving stool its brown color. If cholesterol or pigment concentrations become unbalanced, crystals can grow into gallstones, which may block ducts and cause sharp pain or inflammation called cholecystitis.

People without a gallbladder can still digest fat because the liver continues producing bile that drips directly into the intestine, though large or high-fat meals may be harder to tolerate at first. Doctors treat gallbladder disease with dietary adjustments, medications that dissolve stones, or laparoscopic surgery to remove the organ. Imaging tools such as ultrasound, HIDA scans, and MRCP help diagnose blockages and measure how well the gallbladder contracts.

Healthy habits for gallbladder care include maintaining a balanced weight, eating fiber-rich foods, and staying physically active. Rapid weight loss or very high-fat diets can upset bile chemistry, increasing stone risk. Researchers investigate bile recycling, microbiome interactions, and new minimally invasive tools to treat biliary disorders more comfortably.