Liver and Gallbladder Archives - Healthhype

Gallbladder Location, Anatomy, Parts, Function, Pictures

Dr. Chris — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:02:39 +0000

What is the gallbladder? The gallbladder is a long sac that stores bile produced by the liver. Sitting under the liver, the gallbladder controls the expulsion of bile into the duodenum plays an important role in the digestion of fats. It is not an essential organ and is often removed by a surgical procedure known as a cholecystectomy in cases of gallbladder disease or gallstones. Anatomy of the Gallbladder The gallbladder is a pear shaped organ that is about 7 to 10 centimeters long (3 to 4 inches) and 2 to 3 centimeters wide (about 1 inch). It has the ability to hold about 50 milliliters of bile which can be emptied via the cystic duct (gallbladder duct) into the common bile duct. From here, the bile will empty into the lumen of the duodenum. This is explained in detail under Bile Duct Anatomy. The wall of the gallbladder has several layers including the epithelium (inner), lamina propria, muscularis, perimuscular and serosa (outer). Parts of the Gallbladder The gallbladder has 3 parts – fundus, body and neck. The fundus is the bottom of the gallbladder that protrudes from under the liver and visible anteriorly. The body is the main dilated [...]

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Hepatitis C Information, Virus Structure, Spread, Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:19:03 +0000

Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by an infection with the hepatitis virus. There are five such viruses which can lead to an infection of the liver, some of which may progress to a chronic infection or only arise as a sequelae to liver disease. Liver function is affected to various degrees and with acute infections there is full recovery. Of the different types of viral hepatitis, it is hepatitis A, B and C that are the most common, with the latter two being leading causes of chronic hepatitis. While there are vaccines for hepatitis A and B, there is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C which in most cases causes severe liver damage. It is therefore considered to be one of the more serious types of viral hepatitis and features high among the causes of liver-related deaths globally. What is Hepatitis C? Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is an RNA flavivirus and considered to be one of the most serious of the hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis C rarely causes an acute infection but is commonly seen as a chronic infection persisting for decades. In fact most [...]

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Alcoholic Liver Disease (Fatty Liver, Hepatitis and Cirrhosis)

Dr. Chris — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:07:07 +0000

The liver is the central processing point of nutrients and wastes in the body. It filters and stores blood, regulates the way nutrients are metabolized and stores excess micro- and macroutrients, forms bile to discard wastes from the body and contributes to blood clotting. The liver is capable of contending with a range of chemical irritants but certain more toxic compounds can have a detrimental effect if consumed in excess or over a long period. Alcohol is one of the compounds and its widespread use globally is one of the leading causes of liver disease. In most cases alcohol and its byproducts are broken down by the liver enzymes. 80% of alcohol is metabolized by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and the remaining 20% by the enzyme cytochrome CYP2E1. This yields harmless substances that can easily be excreted from the system. With alcoholic liver disease, the inability to metabolize alcohol and its byproducts allow these compounds to damage liver tissue. What is alcoholic liver disease? Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is damage to liver tissue induced by alcohol that leads to acute or chronic reversible or irreversible changes that compromise liver function. Despite the term “alcoholic”, this type of liver disease [...]

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Gallbladder Mucocele (Hydrops)

Dr. Chris — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 20:38:45 +0000

What is gallbladder mucocele? A gallbladder mucocele is a condition where the gallbladder is stretched due to the accumulation of mucus or clear watery fluid in the hollow organ. It is also known as hydrops. This condition should not be confused with a gallbladder empyema where the gallbladder is filled with pus. In a mucocele, the gallbladder is larger in size than normal due to the overdistension caused by the fluid within. When left untreated, the gallbladder can become infected, press on the stomach thereby partly blocking it and gallbladder rupture is also possible. Although a mucocele is not common, it must be suspected and monitored for in the event of gallstones. Most cases of gallbladder mucocele arise as a complication of gallstones disease, and gallstones itself are a fairly common condition. Gallbladder Mucocele Reasons Gallbladder Anatomy and Function The gallbladder is a hollow sac that stores bile containing wastes and fats among other substances that need to be evacuated from the body. Normally this bile is secreted when a person eats food and digestion is occurring in the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. Since bile has an emulsifying property, it is useful for breaking down the [...]

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Wilson’s Disease (Inherited Copper Toxicity Disease)

Dr. Chris — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:59:46 +0000

What is Wilson’s disease? Wilson’s disease is a genetic disorder that hampers the body’s ability to bind and transport copper thereby leading to accumulation of copper in the body. Over time copper deposition occurs in various different organs and tissues. Copper in its free form is toxic and damages the organs where it accumulates. As the body is not able to manage the copper appropriately, the metal builds up in the body from the time of birth. However, symptoms may only be noted by the age of 5 years or even later in life. Wilson’s disease is rare and only affects about 1 in 30,000 people. Copper Accumulation in the Body Copper is present in small quantities in the human body. It is primarily sourced from food absorbed in the gut. Copper is toxic in the free state and is normally bound to certain proteins (ceruloplasmin) which renders it non-toxic. Copper toxicity arises when : abnormally large amounts of copper is introduced into the body, or when then body cannot handle even normal amounts of copper appropriately. The intake of large amounts of copper happens for various reasons during the course of life. In this instance it is known as [...]

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Portal Hypertension (High Blood Pressure in Vein to Liver)

Dr. Chris — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:35:00 +0000

Portal Hypertension Definition Portal hypertension is the medical term for elevated blood pressure with the major vein of the liver, the hepatic portal vein. Although it is most commonly caused by liver cirrhosis, it can be due to a number of other causes that may not even involve the liver. Therefore portal hypertension is an important clinical sign of a wide range of diseases. In the long term, the prolonged hypertension can cause a host of complications within the liver and entire body, some of which can be life threatening. Portal Hypertension Location The hepatic portal vein is the major vein that carries blood to the liver. Blood from various parts of the gastrointestinal tract drain into the portal vein. In this way nutrients from the gut can be processed by the liver. Similarly toxins that are absorbed from the gut are first filtered by the liver before the blood empties into the systemic circulation. The portal vein originates behind the pancreas in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. It measures about 8 centimeters (about 3 inches) in length. The portal vein also communicates with other veins draining blood from various organs in the pelvis, abdomen and even the [...]

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How Do You Know If You Have Gallstones

Dr. Chris — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:20:48 +0000

Some 20 million American adults have gallstones and gallstone complications account for as many as 10,000 deaths per year. It is by no means a rare or insignificant disorder but since most people with gallstones are asymptomatic (without symptoms), gallstones often does not get the same attention as other common medical conditions. Many people are not familiar with the symptoms of gallstones as they would be with the symptoms of more common ailments. However, spotting gallstones early and getting medical attention as soon as possible can in some cases even make the difference between life and death. Some people are at greater risk of gallstones than others. The most common type of gallstones is cholesterol stones. It is more likely to occur in middle-aged overweight Caucasian women who have had several pregnancies or use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). A common mnemonic taught to medical students to remember the high risk group is known as the 5 F’s – fair (Caucasian), female, forty (middle aged), fertile (pregnancy/HRT) and fat (overweight or obese). Picture of cholesterol gallstones The symptoms of any condition are mainly related to the diseased organ’s location and its function. This means that symptoms are in and around where [...]

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Facts About Gallstones And The Treatment

Dr. Chris — Tue, 27 May 2014 23:33:58 +0000

The sound of gallstones as a disease does not really elicit much concern in most of us. It is known to be painful. It may require surgery. But most of us feel that it is rarely associated with problems. This is incorrect. Gallstones can be very serious. It can lead to life-threatening complications. It can even increase your risk of cancer in the future. The fact that surgery is the preferred method for a quick, safe and lasting cure makes many of us delay medical attention or seek alternatives. Understandably nobody wants to go under the knife and definitely not for a condition that seems so trivial. Here are some of the facts about gallstones that may shed light on the way you see this problem. Stones Come From Bile Bile is the substance formed from the waste products leaving the liver. It is stored in the gallbladder and eventually dumped into the small intestine. Bile is made up of many different components from cholesterol to bilirubin. It comes out of the hepatic ducts from the liver to empty into the gallbladder and eventually pass out through the common bile duct into the small intestine. If these substances in the [...]

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Basic Facts About Hepatitis (Liver Inflammation)

Dr. Chris — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 02:18:21 +0000

It may not be the most well known disease, but hepatitis is a significant health problem the world over. There are still widespread misconceptions about the disease, like it is always due to a viral infection. However, a better understanding of all types of hepatitis is one of the most important steps in reducing the transmission of the disease. Most can be easily prevented with simple measures while a few rare types are just unavoidable. The liver is one of the vital organs of the body although most of us only think of the brain, heart and lungs in this light. In fact the liver is one of the most versatile and hard working organs. Everyday it is neutralizing toxins, assimilating and producing nutrients and plays a variety of other roles that makes life possible. It is a resilient organ that can withstand significant insults and even regenerate to a certain degree. But when irritated, injured or damaged, the functioning of the liver gradually decreases. One of the major liver problems is hepatitis. It is often the prelude to more serious liver diseases that can be life threatening. It culminates in liver failure where the liver stops functioning to an [...]

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Gallbladder Pain and Other Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease

Jan Modric — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:56:12 +0000

Characteristics of Gallbladder Pain Pain arising from the gallbladder or bile ducts usually appears below the right lower rib, 3-5 inches (7-12 cm) from the vertical mid-line. It may spread into the right lower or upper back, shoulder blade or shoulder. Other causes of right upper abdominal pain are liver, right kidney, ureter or adrenal gland, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, skin, muscles and ribs in affected area. Causes of Gallbladder Pain Gallbladder pain can be due to: Gallbladder disorders: gallstones in the gallbladder, inflamed gallbladder (with or without gallstones), gallbladder cancer, biliary dyskinesia Bile duct disorders: gallstones, inflammation, fibrosis, cancer in the bile ducts, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) When ultrasonography does not show any gallbladder disorder, bile ducts have to be checked by additional gallbladder tests. When nothing “organic” can be found, motility disorders affecting gallbladder or bile ducts contraction should be checked by special tests. 1. Gallstones in Gallbladder Gallbladder pain due to gallstones usually appears within an hour after a meal as a muscular spasm below the right lower rib. It is a heavy meal rather than fatty meal that triggers pain. Pain may spread into the right upper back (between shoulder blades) or right shoulder. It may [...]

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