Gallbladder Flashcards

Study gallbladder anatomy, including its parts, surfaces, peritoneal relations, wall layers, blood supply, lymphatics, and biliary function.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the gallbladder?

A pear-shaped muscular sac that stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver.

In This Section

1. What is the gallbladder?

A pear-shaped muscular sac that stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver.

2. Where is the gallbladder located?

In the gallbladder fossa on the visceral surface of the liver, between segments IVb and V.

3. What are the three main anatomical parts of the gallbladder?

The fundus, body, and neck.

4. Which part of the gallbladder projects beyond the inferior border of the liver?

The fundus.

5. Where is the fundus of the gallbladder typically projected on the anterior abdominal wall?

Near the tip of the right ninth costal cartilage, at the lateral border of the rectus abdominis.

6. Which part of the gallbladder forms its largest central portion?

The body.

7. Which part of the gallbladder continues into the cystic duct?

The neck.

8. What is Hartmann's pouch?

A variable outpouching near the gallbladder neck that may harbor gallstones.

9. What is the approximate capacity of the adult gallbladder?

Approximately 30 to 50 mL, although capacity varies.

10. What is the usual peritoneal relationship of the gallbladder?

Its free surface is covered by visceral peritoneum, while its hepatic surface is attached to the liver.

11. Which structures commonly lie in relation to the inferior surface of the gallbladder?

The superior part of the duodenum and the transverse colon.

12. Which duct connects the gallbladder to the extrahepatic biliary system?

The cystic duct.

13. Which two ducts unite to form the common bile duct?

The cystic duct and common hepatic duct.

14. What type of epithelium lines the gallbladder mucosa?

Simple columnar epithelium with apical microvilli.

15. How does the gallbladder concentrate stored bile?

Its epithelium absorbs water and electrolytes from the bile.

16. Which two histological layers are absent from the typical gallbladder wall?

The muscularis mucosae and submucosa.

17. How is smooth muscle arranged in the gallbladder wall?

In irregularly oriented, interlacing bundles within the muscular layer.

18. What are Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses?

Invaginations of gallbladder mucosa extending into or through the muscular wall.

19. Which artery usually provides the principal arterial supply to the gallbladder?

The cystic artery.

20. From which artery does the cystic artery most commonly arise?

The right hepatic artery.

21. How does venous blood from the gallbladder drain?

Through cystic veins into the portal system and small veins draining directly into the liver.

22. Which lymph node commonly receives lymph directly from the gallbladder?

The cystic lymph node, also called the node of Lund.

23. Which autonomic plexus supplies the gallbladder?

The hepatic plexus, containing sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers.

24. Which cranial nerve provides parasympathetic innervation to the gallbladder?

The vagus nerve, cranial nerve X.

25. Which hormone stimulates gallbladder contraction after a fatty meal?

Cholecystokinin.

26. What are the boundaries of the hepatocystic triangle?

The cystic duct, common hepatic duct, and inferior surface of the liver.

27. Why is the hepatocystic triangle important during cholecystectomy?

It is a key surgical region for identifying the cystic artery and cystic duct.

28. What is the critical view of safety during laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

A dissection exposing only two structures entering the gallbladder, with the hepatocystic triangle cleared and lower gallbladder separated from the liver.

29. What is the anatomical basis of a positive Murphy's sign?

An inflamed gallbladder contacts the examining hand during inspiration, producing pain and inspiratory arrest.

30. Why can gallbladder inflammation cause referred pain in the right shoulder?

Irritation of adjacent diaphragmatic peritoneum activates phrenic nerve afferents from C3 to C5.