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Related Concept Videos

Gallbladder01:17

Gallbladder

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The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that plays a crucial role in our digestive system. Measuring about 10 cm in length, it is comparable in size to a kiwi fruit and is located in a hollow area on the lower surface of the liver. The gallbladder's primary function is to store and concentrate bile, a fluid produced by the liver that aids in digestion.
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Bile01:19

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Bile is a crucial bodily fluid, characterized by its yellow-green color and alkaline nature. Produced in the liver, it is transported through the common hepatic duct into either the cystic duct, leading to the gallbladder, or directly into the common bile duct. The flow of bile is regulated by the sphincter of Oddi located at the entrance of the duodenum. When this sphincter is closed, bile is redirected to the gallbladder for storage and concentration.
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Accessory Organs01:31

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Accessory organs are those that participate in the digestion of food but do not come into direct contact with it like the mouth, stomach, or intestine do. Accessory organs secrete enzymes into the digestive tract to facilitate the breakdown of food.
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Major Organs of the Digestive System01:19

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The digestive system is responsible for the ingestion of food, secretion of enzymes, mixing and digesting food, absorption of the nutrients and defecation. The human digestive system consists of two major parts: the gastrointestinal tract and the accessory digestive organs.
Gastrointestinal tract:
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Liver Physiology01:30

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The liver, an essential organ in the human body, performs over 200 vital functions that can be broadly categorized into metabolic, hematological, endocrine regulation, and bile production.
Metabolic Regulation:
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Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder01:26

Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder

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Liver and gallbladder diseases are a significant health concern, with prominent conditions including cirrhosis, hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and gallstones. Jaundice is a common manifestation of liver and biliary disease.
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Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport
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Functions of the Gallbladder.

Chantal Housset1,2, Yues Chrétien1,2, Dominique Debray1,3

  • 1Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, UMR_S 938, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Paris, France.

Comprehensive Physiology
|June 28, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The gallbladder regulates bile acid circulation and composition through motor function and epithelial secretion. Gallbladder removal can increase bile acid recirculation, leading to metabolic disorders and increased cancer risk.

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Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Physiology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile, regulating bile acid enterohepatic circulation.
  • Gallbladder motor function is controlled by bile acids (via TGR5) and neurohormonal signals (e.g., cholecystokinin, FGF15/19).
  • The gallbladder epithelium secretes bicarbonate and mucins for cytoprotection and absorbs cholesterol.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the physiological roles of the gallbladder in bile acid homeostasis and composition.
  • To discuss the impact of gallbladder function and dysfunction on gallstone disease and metabolic health.
  • To explore the consequences of cholecystectomy on bile acid circulation and associated health risks.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of physiological mechanisms regulating gallbladder function.
  • Analysis of the role of gallbladder in bile acid absorption, secretion, and enterohepatic circulation.
  • Examination of the pathological implications of altered gallbladder function and cholecystectomy.

Main Results:

  • Gallbladder motor function and epithelial secretion are critical for bile acid circulation and gut health.
  • Altered gallbladder function contributes to gallstone formation and offers protective roles in certain pathologies.
  • Cholecystectomy increases bile acid recirculation, elevating risks for NAFLD, cirrhosis, and carcinoid tumors.

Conclusions:

  • The gallbladder plays a vital role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis through bile acid regulation.
  • Gallbladder-preserving strategies may benefit certain patients, contrasting with the risks of cholecystectomy.
  • Understanding gallbladder physiology is crucial for managing hepatobiliary diseases and metabolic disorders.