At times when I slaughter a fowl I mistakenly cut the gall bladder without knowing that i have done so, after cooking the chicken I realize that the meat is a little bit bitter and I usually wonder why it is bitter until the day I ask my dad what causes it. Then he now show me the small organ, he said the meat will be bitter whenever I mistakenly cut the organ. But I still wonder why small organ like this will spoil a whole meat.
The Gallbladder
The gallbladder is a pear shaped organ it is 10 cm long and 3.5 cm in diameter and it is found under the liver in the upper section of the abdomen. It is the organ that stores the body bile, fat, cholesterol and some other body fluid. It have a great work in breaking down of fat and it also help in digestion, the gallbladder have approximately 50 ml capacity.
Functions of the gallbladder
Gallbladder majorly deals with bile and most of the function deals with bile. The following are the function of the gallbladder.
Gallbladder stores Bile.
Bile are the dark or yellow color fluid in the gallbladder, that is the major thing that the gallbladder stores. Bile is bitter if tasted Yoruba people will call it oro-oro
Secretion of mucin
Gallbladder secretes bile and mix it with bile and the mucin help as a lubricant for chyme in the small intestine.
Maintenance of bilary system pressure
It helps in digestion
Bile
Bile is a yellowish or green substance that contain about 97.6% of water and 2.4% of solid which is secreted in the liver and the main function is emulsification of fat.
Properties of bile
Volume: 800 ml to 1200 per day
Reaction: Bile is alkaline in nature
pH: It has the pH of 8 to 8.6
Specific: Gravity: 1.010 to 1.011
Color: Golden yellow or green
Composition of bile
Bile contains 97.6% of water and 2.4% of solid substances.
The solid substances inside the gallbladder are divided into two;
- Organic substances
a. Bile salt
b. Bile pigment
c. Fatty acid
d. Mucin (which is secreted in the gallbladder)
e. Lecithin
f. Cholesterol - Inorganic substances
a. Sodium
b. Calcium
c. Potassium
d. Chloride
e. Bicarbonate
Functions of bile
- Digestive function
- Absorptive function
- Excretory function
- Laxative function
Importance of Gallbladder
Although some people says that gallbladder is not that important in the body, they says it may be removed and nothing will happen to the patient in which they remove it from. Yes it is possible you remove it and the patient is still alive but the person survival is not that strong because gallbladder have many importance in the body system.It maintain the pressure of the bile coming from the liver, so if it has been removed in a patient the bile may have high pressure and that could cause havoc yo the body if there is no gallbladder to regulate the pressure.
Also, the gallbladder secrete mucin and the mucin is mixed with bile produce by the liver to serve as lubricant for chyme, if there is no gallbladder to secrete mucin there will be no source of lubricant for chyme in the intestine, the absence can even cause high level of bilirubin in blood, so therefore gallbladder is of much importance in the body.
Abnormalities of the gallbladder
Gall stones:
This is the problem that occur if the gallbladder is not emptied and also if the substances in the bile and from the blood block the passage to the gallbladder and bile duct.
Causes of gall stone
- Reduction in Bile salt and Lecithin
- Excess of cholesterol
- Obstruction of bile flow from gallbladder
- Infection of the gallbladder epithelium
gallstone: source
Cholecystitis:
The inflammation of the gallbladder is called Cholecystitis. The inflammation might be due to gall stone(the blockage of the passage to the gallbladder and the bile duct)
cholecystitis: source
Gallbladder cancer:
The gallbladder cancer is the cancer that develops from the gallbladder. the cancer is treatable and even it is rarely found in patient.
meaning of gall bladder cancer: source
Gangrene
It is one of the most complications of the cholecystitis, and it occurs when ther is inadequate supply of blood to the gallbladder.
inadequate blood supply: source
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF GALLBLADDER ABNORMALITIES
- Gallstone
Diagnosis: The presence of gallstone is diagnosed by Ultrasound scanning and Cholangiography. Cholangiography means taking the image of bile duct through the use of x-ray.
Treatment: Simple cholesterol gallstone could be dissolved in a period of 1 to 2 years by administration of 1 to 1.5 gram of chemodeoxycholin acid daily. In a severe condition, the gallbladder would be removed through the method called cholecystectomy by laparoscopic surgery. - Cholecystitis
Diagnosis: cholecystitis can be diagnosed through the use of X-ray to produce the details of the stomach and its organ.
Treatment: The inflammation of the gallbladder can be treat through; intravenous hydration, analgesia, using of antibodies and bowel rest - Gallbladder cancer
Diagnosis: This can be diagnose by computerize tomography (CT) or MRI (magnetic resonance image) and doctors might even want to carry out direct surgery .
Treatment: The treatment includes; Radiation, medication, chemotherapy and surgery. - Gangrene
Diagnosis: As we know that gangrene is caused by inadequate blood supply to the body, we can diagnose gangrene through blood test, X-ray, computerize tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance image (MRI).
Treatment: gangrene is a symptom of poor blood supply to the body, so, it requires urgent treatment. Such as, using antibodies and at times surgery
Conclusion
Going for medical checkup is the best method to know the condition your gallbladder is, that will let you know whether you need medication or your gallbladder is in a good condition. The gallbladder is said to have little function in the body but the abnormalities in gallbladder can cause chronic disease to the body.
Further reading:
https://www.slideshare.net/SanalKumar3/gall-bladder-biliary-tract-anomalies-and-variants
https://www.healthline.com/health/gallbladder-disease
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallbladder