By The gallbladder is one of the most overlooked organs in the human body. Located beside the liver, the gallbladder stores and breaks down the bile in our body – which helps with waste removal. But did you ever wonder how much does a gallbladder weigh?
Such questions often appear in our minds randomly, but we don’t have the answer to it. However, if you are interested, then keep on reading this post. You will learn various things about the gallbladder, like how much it weighs, its functions, and what diseases affect it.
Gallbladder Location
The gallbladder is located in the shallow gallbladder fossa, which is a dip on the visceral surface of the liver between the right and quadrate lobes. Connective tissue links the hepatic surface of the gallbladder to the capsule that surrounds the liver.
The gallbladder is situated at the ninth costal cartilage in the right upper abdominal quadrant. The liver’s inferior border is where the fundus of the gallbladder protrudes anteriorly. The liver, abdominal wall, transverse colon, and duodenum are among the organs that encounter the gallbladder.
Gallbladder Functions
The gallbladder fundus supports the liver and small intestine in its efforts to remove bile from the body. It is in charge of holding bile, commonly referred to as “gall,” which is later discharged into the small intestine. Depending on the contents, the gallbladder breaks down this bile at various speeds.
For instance, bile that is higher in fat or oil will take longer to enter the small intestine’s walls and pass through the gallbladder. This is frequently the reason for post-meal bloating. In the end, the gallbladder neck functions as a temporary bile storage facility and a component of the body’s waste elimination mechanism.
How Much Does A Gallbladder Weigh?
One of the tiniest organs in the body is the gallbladder, sometimes referred to as the cholecyst. Bile is transported from the liver to the small intestine via the tiny organ, which serves as a conduit between the two. The gallbladder weighs just 2 to 2.5 ounces (70 grams) overall since it is entirely hollow. For comparison, this weighs about the same as a tennis ball or two AA batteries.
Gallbladder Diseases
There are several diseases that can affect your gallbladder badly. They are:
1. Gallstones
These develop in the gallbladder when elements in the bile or blood create solid deposits. This stops the gallbladder from emptying bile and carrying out its fundamental activities.
2. Choledocholithiasis
This condition develops when gallstones clog the ducts that drain the gallbladder. Pain, fever, and jaundice are just a few of the symptoms that can appear when bile becomes stuck in the gallbladder and is unable to pass to the intestines.
3. Cholecystitis
This condition develops when the gallbladder is irritated. This may be an isolated incident, but it might potentially develop into a recurring problem. Gallstones frequently cause acute cholecystitis, which causes abdominal pain following meals. The gallbladder can become damaged by chronic cholecystitis, necessitating surgery.
4. Gangrene
Caused by untreated acute cholecystitis, this condition develops when the gallbladder fails to generate enough blood flow, resulting in symptoms including disorientation, nausea, and fever.
5. Gallbladder Abscess
Gallbladder abscesses, also known as empyemas, happen when the gallbladder becomes infected with pus. This disorder can be fatal if it is not addressed. Chills, stomach/abdominal discomfort, and fever are common symptoms.
6. Gallbladder Polyps
These are mutative growths that develop in the gallbladder. Although they are normally asymptomatic and non-cancerous, if they become large enough, they may need to be removed. This results in a gallbladder cystic duct.
7. Sclerosing Cholangitis
This is the repeated bile duct inflammation that culminates in the gallbladder, creating tissue scars. Although 50% of those who acquire sclerosing cholangitis won’t have any symptoms, emergent signs and symptoms might include fever, jaundice, and pain.
8. Biliary Dyskinesia
When a gallbladder is unable to operate at its peak function, it frequently results from chronic inflammation. Indigestion and post-meal discomfort are symptoms.
9. Acalculous Gallbladder Disease
Doctors will identify this disease when the gallbladder is inflamed but no gallstones are present. It frequently exhibits symptomatology that is comparable to acute cholecystitis or gallstones.
10. Gallbladder Cancer
Gallstones and chronic inflammation enhance a person’s chance of getting gallbladder cancer, despite the fact that this form of cancer is rare and only affects 4,000 Americans each year. Despite the fact that gallbladder cancer first appears on the inner walls of the gallbladder, it has the potential to migrate to other vital organs like the liver.
Gallbladder Diagnosis
The following are several gallbladder size tests to identify gallbladder issues and diseases:
- Belly-Scan Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves are utilized in this non-invasive technique to examine the gallbladder wall.
- Hida Test (Cholescintigraphy): It is a test based on nuclear medicine. An intravenous injection of a radioactive tracer causes bile secretion.
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): This test involves inserting a flexible tube into the mouth, stomach, and small intestine. Through this tube, a doctor may see through it while injecting dye into the ducts of the biliary system. During an ERCP surgery, this test may be performed to address gallstone issues.
- Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP): In this examination, high-resolution pictures of the bile ducts, pancreas, and gallbladder are produced using an MRI scanner. These photos aid in the creation of a treatment plan.
- Ultrasound With Endoscopy: Through the mouth, a flexible tube with a small ultrasound probe connected to one end is pushed into the intestines. The tool aids in gallstone pancreatitis detection.
- Abdominal X-Ray: Using these X-rays, gallstones can be found.
How To Keep Your Gallbladder Healthy And Prevent Gallbladder Stones?
Fortunately, maintaining the health of your gallbladder is frequently as easy as changing your diet. Consuming foods high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, can, for instance, help avoid gallstones.
On the other side, reducing sugar and carbs can help you improve the function of your gallbladder because they can both cause problems with the organ. Additionally, improving the health of your gallbladder by consuming good fats and oils while reducing the intake of bad fats.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
People have various questions in their mind regarding how much does a gallbladder weigh. Here are my answers to their queries:
Ans. No, a gallbladder does not keep you from losing weight. However, people suffering from obesity are more at risk of developing gallbladder stones.
Ans. Various reports indicate different ways your body might react after getting your gallbladder stones removed. Some reports indicate that many patients suffered from gallbladder removal weight loss initially after getting their gallbladders removed. However, a spurt of weight gain was seen after a few months after the surgery.
Ans. The size of a gallbladder stone can vary from person to person. However, a survey indicated that the average weight of a gallbladder stone is around 9 grams. Therefore, a gallbladder with stones would weigh around 80 grams approximately. Losing weight with gallstones is pretty common after surgery.
Conclusion
Since you were wondering how much a gallbladder weigh, the answer is around 2.5 ounces (around 70 grams). However, this weight increases if you have gallbladder stones inside you. Depending on the size of the stone, its weight can increase by 10 grams. To ensure that this does not happen, keep your gallbladder healthy by eating the right diet and exercising right.
If you wish to know about other mysterious organs in the human body as well, let me know in the comments below!
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