Gallbladder where is it located pictures

Healthy gallbladder, computer illustration. Photomicrograph X at Gallbladder wall showing columnar epithelium with mucosal folds, connective tissue, blood vessels and smooth muscle fibers. Isolated on White Background. Editable Stroke. Gallbladder Related Vector Line Icon. Patient after intestinal cancer and gallbladder removal. Belly wound with surgical silver stitch. Gallbladder, illustration. Close-up of Cell Structure of islet langerhans.

Realistic vector green silk ribbon with loop Gallbladder cancer awareness ribbon vector illustration isolated on white background. Gallbladder icon for presentation. Gallbladder icon vector, filled flat sign, solid pictogram isolated on white, logo illustration. Photomicrograph X30 at 10cm wide. Gallbladder wall showing columnar epithelium with mucosal folds, connective tissue and smooth muscle fibers.

Side view. Human digestive system anatomy concept as a liver pancreas and gallbladder with a stomach and large intestine and small intestines. Ultrasound upper abdomen showing Liver and gall bladder for screening hepatic cell carcinoma and gallstone. Photomicrograph X at 10cm wide. Back view. Photo of female doctor, empty space. Gall bladder issues medical concept.

Digestive system function as a digestion anatomy concept including liver pancreas and gallbladder with a stomach large intestine. The ribbons circular as a symbol of cancer. Vector illustration EPS. Cholecystokinin is hormone of duodenum and small intestine Effects of cholecystokinin on the gastrointestinal tract.

Cut section of pancreas with visible pancreatic duct. 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:. American College of Gastroenterology. If your doctor suspects gallbladder disease, this is a good resource to start with. The web page is divided into questions about different aspects of the condition.

American Pediatric Surgical Association. This site is geared toward parents of children with gallbladder disease, but may be useful for people of any age or their caregivers. It offers a thorough and easy-to-understand explanation of how the gallbladder works and what can go wrong, diagnostic tests, treatment options, and recovery. Surgery to remove the gallbladder is most often done laparoscopically, using small incisions and guided by a tiny camera.

This resource explains the operation and other forms of surgery to remove a gallbladder. Laparoscopic surgery to remove a gallbladder is commonly performed, but if your situation is not an emergency, this site can help you look for a surgeon near you with specific expertise in this procedure.

Be sure to ask about their experience with open abdominal surgery in case it becomes necessary. Cleveland Clinic. This resource has specific suggestions for what to eat after gallbladder surgery as well as what foods to avoid. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: October 1, Medically Reviewed.

If a gallstone completely blocks the flow of bile to the gallbladder or small intestine, you may experience the following symptoms, in addition to pain: Nausea or loss of appetite Fatigue Weight loss Jaundice yellowing of the skin and eyes Fever and chills Itching Night sweats Dark urine Greasy or light-colored stools 4 Gallstones may never cause any pain at all, and may be discovered by chance on an imaging scan performed for unrelated reasons.

The gallbladder's primary function is to store bile, which is produced in the liver and helps break down fats in the body. People can function without a gallbladder if the organ needs to be removed. The body copes by filling bile ducts, which transport bile to the small intestine, and using them to store excess bile.

What are the symptoms of gallstones? Gallstones form from hardened bile and cholesterol and can block the release of bile from the gallbladder. This can lead to severe pain, particularly after a large or fatty meal, jaundice yellowing of the skin and eyes , fever, and chills.

What complications can arise from gallbladder removal? Severe complications from gallbladder removal are rare. The digestive system may be disrupted for a period of time, but this is expected. In rare cases, more serious complications can develop, including bile leaking into the abdominal cavity, injury to a bile duct, and attacks of pain in the area.

Infection, blood clots, and scarring can also occur. What diet changes are necessary after gallbladder removal? The body needs time to adjust to losing its storage area for bile after gallbladder removal. As a result, it can be difficult to digest fatty and high-fiber foods.