What does gallbladder do

Inflammation may eventually damage the gallbladder, making it lose its ability to function correctly. Gallstones are small, hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder.

These deposits can develop and go undetected for years. They eventually cause problems, including inflammation, infection, and pain. Gallstones typically cause acute cholecystitis. Gallstones are usually very small, no more than a few millimeters wide. However, they can grow to several centimeters. Some people develop only one gallstone, while others develop several. As the gallstones grow in size, they can begin to block the channels that lead out of the gallbladder.

Another type of gallstone, a pigment stone, is formed from calcium bilirubinate. This type of stone is rarer. Explore this interactive 3-D diagram to learn more about the gallbladder and gallstones. Bile is ejected from the gallbladder, passed through small tubes, and deposited in the common bile duct. It then enters the small intestine. In most cases, common bile duct stones are actually gallstones that developed in the gallbladder and then passed into the bile duct.

This type of stone is called a secondary common bile duct stone, or secondary stone. Sometimes stones form in the common bile duct itself. These stones are called primary common bile duct stones, or primary stones.

This rare type of stone is more likely to cause an infection than a secondary stone. Gallbladder disease without stones, also called acalculous gallbladder disease, can occur. In this case, you may experience symptoms commonly associated with gallstones without actually having stones. An infection may develop if the common bile duct is obstructed. Treatment for this condition is successful if the infection is found early. A small percentage of people with gallstones may also develop pus in the gallbladder.

This condition is called empyema. Pus is a combination of white blood cells , bacteria , and dead tissue. The development of pus, also known as an abscess, leads to severe abdominal pain. A gallstone may travel into the intestine and block it. This condition, known as gallstone ileus, is rare but can be fatal.

If you wait too long to seek treatment, gallstones can lead to a perforated gallbladder. This is a life-threatening condition. Polyps are abnormal tissue growths. These growths are typically benign, or noncancerous. Small gallbladder polyps may not need to be removed. Some of those substances, such as cholesterol, can pack together and form gallstones ranging in size from that of a grain of sand to a golf ball. When gallstones get stuck while traveling through the duct tube to the stomach, they block the outflow of bile, which causes the gallbladder to spasm.

This usually leads to sharp pain, like being cut by a knife, under the rib cage in the upper right side or center of the abdomen. The pain can be so severe that it takes your breath away. You might mistake it for a heart attack, says Efron. Other common symptoms of a gallbladder attack include:. The attacks usually last several hours. The pain typically subsides once the gallstone has passed.

Several serious conditions, like heart attacks, ulcer perforations and appendicitis, have similar symptoms to gallstones and need to be ruled out. Medication can ease the pain of a passing gallstone. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics if your gallbladder or surrounding organs are infected cholecystitis.

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You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. Blockage of the pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct is a tube that runs from the pancreas and connects to the common bile duct just before entering the duodenum.

Pancreatic juices, which aid in digestion, flow through the pancreatic duct. A gallstone can cause a blockage in the pancreatic duct, which can lead to inflammation of the pancreas pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis causes intense, constant abdominal pain and usually requires hospitalization. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

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This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Gallstones Open pop-up dialog box Close. Gallstones Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that can form in your gallbladder.