Gall Bladder - Anatomy & Physiology

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Introduction

The gallbladder stores bile produced in the liver. Bile is important in the digestion of lipids.

The gallbladder forms as an outgrowth of the bile duct, as a secondary hollow at the posterior edge of the original hepatic rudiment. The gallbladder and the cyctic duct joins the common bile duct which enters the duodenum at the major duodenal papillae (with the pancreatic duct) on the dorsal surface of the duodenum

Structure

Location of the Canine Gallbladder - Copyright RVC 2008

• Lies between the right medial and quadrate lobes of the liver

• Partly attached

• Partly free

Function

• Stores bile

• Concentrates bile by absorption through the folded mucosal wall

Innervation

• Parasympathetic nerves

Histology

Histology of the Guinea-pig Gallbladder - Copyright RVC 2008

• Highly folded mucosa

• Reduced submucosa

• No lamina muscularis

• Simple columnar epithelium

• No glands

Species Differences

Equine

• The horse has no gallbladder

Rodents

• Rats do not have a gallbladder

Canine

• In some dogs, the gallbladder is so deeply embedded it makes contact with the diaphragm and contacts the parietal surface

• Lies opposite the 8th intercostal space

• Thinest layers of tunica muscularis

Bovine

• Thickest layers of tunica muscularis

• Sheep have a less projecting gall bladder than cows

• Gallbladder lies against the 10th or 11th rib

Avian

• Pigeons and budgerigars lack a gallbladder

Links

Pathology of the Gall Bladder