Gallbladder
Learning objectives
After working through this study unit you will be able to:
- Name the parts of the gallbladder and the biliary system.
- Describe their function and neurovasculature.
- Understand the relations of the gallbladder to the nearby structures.
Watch video
The gallbladder is a small intraperitoneal organ, located below the liver, to which it is functionally connected through the extrahepatic duct system. While the liver produces bile, the gallbladder’s main function is to store the bile that it receives from the liver and concentrate it by removing water and electrolytes.
The following video will help you learn everything you should know about the gallbladder, its anatomy, function, relations to surrounding structures and clinical importance.
Take a quiz
After watching the video, take the next step and solidify your knowledge with our quiz about the gallbladder and the nearby structures:
...or you can challenge yourself even further with this customizable quiz about the liver:
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/537/CfXtqw6cplydTuS2wvMOQ_the-gallbladder_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Revise everything that you have learned by analyzing each structure of the gallbladder and accompanying structures individually in our atlas gallery:
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/vesica-biliaris-6/Wb7IhCSE7y6CrYhE8T9A_Vesica_biliaris_01.png "Gallbladder (Vesica biliaris); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/fundus-of-gallbladder/uOHXKQtDbnXcNk6cXO2Tuw_Fundus_02.png "Fundus of gallbladder (Fundus vesicae biliaris); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/body-of-gallbladder/U3WmXOGVBTl019yWeNMrA_Corpus_02.png "Body of gallbladder (Corpus vesicae biliaris); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/infundibulum-of-gallbladder/q5Uv6hcO66WXMVTfB059pA_Infundibulum_02.png "Infundibulum of gallbladder (Infundibulum vesicae biliaris); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/collum-vesicae-biliaris/Xcu4e0aXf31giXmF7S8w_Collum_01.png "Neck of gallbladder (Collum vesicae biliaris); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/cystic-duct/JluRGbtUnOq76M3GvDFyVg_Ductus_cysticus_02.png "Cystic duct (Ductus cysticus); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/common-bile-duct/LsO72NZc1JmaR7Z3TxvXA_Ductus_choledochus_02.png "Bile duct (Ductus biliaris); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/liver/dyj7Nv5tuFZvrBxdRnADBA_Hepar_01_-_Copy.png "Liver (Hepar); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/common-hepatic-duct/N1zZj4TtagRtg9fwH3FX6g_Ductus_hepaticus_communis_02.png "Common hepatic duct (Ductus hepaticus communis); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/left-hepatic-duct/r74UjMbCew1sRHvsLFolg_Ductus_hepaticus_sinister_02.png "Left hepatic duct (Ductus hepaticus sinister); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ductus-hepaticus-dexter-3/wLvrs9TryunIeRNi7a6WA_Ductus_hepaticus_dexter_01.png "Right hepatic duct (Ductus hepaticus dexter); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pancreas-6/glz5F7UiRH8Us7ZH2pD6lA_Pancreas_02.png "Pancreas; Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ductus-pancreaticus-2/LiEYBYVbj45cWUBs0ma6Xg_Ductus_pancreaticus_01.png "Pancreatic duct (Ductus pancreaticus); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ampulla-of-vater/uxVGPFuooJ9HO7V8axHiLA_110Hepatopancreatic_ampulla_magnified.png "Hepatopancreatic ampulla (Ampulla hepatopancreatica); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/major-duodenal-papilla/4PT0q931gW0TAAVg0QoSTg_Papilla_duodeni_major_02.png "Major duodenal papilla (Papilla major duodeni); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/duodenum-2/6jaNEtK3JhPrvJB3S0gCAA_Duodenum_01.png "Duodenum; Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Definition | Gastrointestinal, intraperitoneal sac-like organ, located on the inferior aspect of the liver |
| Parts | Fundus, body, infundibulum, neck |
| Function | Storage, concentration and release of bile |
| Extrahepatic duct system | Left and right hepatic ducts, common hepatic duct, cystic duct, bile duct, pancreatic duct, hepatopancreatic ampulla, major duodenal papilla |
| Neurovascular supply |
Arterial supply: Cystic artery Venous drainage: Small tributaries of the segmental portal veins Lymph: Intrahepatic lymph vessels, cystic node Innervation: Hepatic plexus |
Well done!
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