Gallbladder

Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ tucked under your liver. Its primary job is to collect, store and release bile. Bile is a digestive fluid that your liver makes. Your gallbladder is part of your biliary tree. This system also includes your liver and bile ducts.

You may not think about your gallbladder much. But issues like gallstones and blocked bile ducts can affect how it works. If you have ongoing upper belly pain or other digestive symptoms, see a healthcare provider. You may have a gallbladder disease that needs treatment.

What does the gallbladder do?

The main function of your gallbladder is to release bile as part of the digestive process.

Your liver is constantly producing bile. Bile contains substances that help your body break down fats during digestion. Bile also helps your body get rid of certain waste products.

Your gallbladder acts like a storage pouch for bile between meals. When you eat, hormones signal your gallbladder to squeeze (contract). This releases bile through your bile ducts into your small intestine.

Your gallbladder is especially active after you eat foods high in fat.

Where is the gallbladder located?

Your gallbladder is located in the upper right side of your abdomen (belly). It sits in a shallow groove just beneath your liver.

Your gallbladder connects to your bile ducts through a small tube called the cystic duct. Your bile ducts carry bile from your liver and gallbladder to your small intestine.

What are the parts of the gallbladder?

Your gallbladder has four main parts:

• Fundus: The rounded outer end of your gallbladder.
• Body: The main middle section where bile is stored.
• Infundibulum: The area between the body and neck that tapers inward.
• Neck: The narrow section that connects to the cystic duct.

The cystic duct joins the common hepatic duct from your liver to form the common bile duct. The common bile duct carries bile into your small intestine.

What does the gallbladder look like?

Your gallbladder is pear-shaped. Healthcare providers often describe it as looking like a small pouch or sac. A healthy gallbladder is usually a grayish-blue or green color.

The average size of an adult’s gallbladder is 3 to 4 inches long (7 to 10 centimeters). It’s a lightweight organ. Its size and weight can vary depending on how full it is with bile.

What is the gallbladder made of?

Your gallbladder has several layers, including:

• An inner lining called the mucosa
• A layer of smooth muscle that contracts to release bile
• Connective tissue
• An outer covering called the serosa

The inner lining absorbs water and concentrates the bile while it’s stored in your gallbladder.

What common gallbladder issues can occur?

Gallstones are a common condition that can affect your gallbladder. These are hardened deposits that form in your gallbladder.

Rapid weight loss (losing more than 3 pounds per week or roughly 10% to 15% of your body weight in a short period) significantly increases your risk of developing gallstones and gallbladder sludge. This can happen whether weight loss is driven by aggressive dieting, bariatric surgery or weight loss medications.

Other common gallbladder issues can include:

• Cholecystitis: Inflammation of your gallbladder, usually caused by gallstones blocking your cystic duct.
• Choledocholithiasis: Gallstones that move into and block your common bile duct.
• Gallbladder polyps: Growths that form on the inside lining of your gallbladder.
• Biliary dyskinesia: A condition in which your gallbladder doesn’t empty properly.
• Gallbladder cancer: A rare type of cancer that develops in your gallbladder.
• Cholangitis: An infection in your bile ducts that can happen when bile flow becomes blocked.

What are signs or symptoms that your gallbladder isn’t working right?

Symptoms of gallbladder issues may include:

• Pain in the upper right side of your belly
• Pain after eating fatty meals
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloating
• Indigestion
• Fever
• Tenderness in your belly
• Pain that spreads to your right shoulder or back
• Jaundice (yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes)
• Dark pee or pale poop

Gallbladder pain may come and go or become severe and constant. Contact a healthcare provider if you have symptoms that don’t improve or if you develop fever, jaundice or severe belly pain.

How can I keep my gallbladder healthy?

You may not be able to prevent all gallbladder issues. But healthy habits may help lower your risk of gallstones and other problems.

You can help support gallbladder health by:

• Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and fiber
• Limiting foods high in saturated fats and added sugars
• Maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you
• Losing weight gradually, if needed, instead of rapid weight loss
• Getting regular physical activity
• Managing conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol

Can you live without a gallbladder?

Yes, you can live without your gallbladder. If you need to have your gallbladder removed, bile will flow directly from your liver into your small intestine. It won’t be stored in your gallbladder first. Most people digest food normally after recovery from surgery.