Gall Bladder

Attached to the right lobe of the liver by connective tissue is the gall bladder. Shaped like a pear it is 7-10 cm long.

Bile produced by the hepatic cells drains out of the lobules via the bile ducts. These unite to form the left and right hepatic ducts which join the cystic duct transporting bile to and from the gall bladder.

The gall bladder concentrates and then stores the bile until it is required to assist in the digestion of fats.

When needed for digestion, bile travels through the cystic duct into the common bile duct. This unites with the pancreatic duct to empty bile into the duodenum. Bile flow is under the control of the hormone cholecystokinin, and enters the duodenum through the sphincter of Oddi.