functions as a reservoir for bile produced
by the liver. It is 7-10 cm long, 3 cm wide
at its broadest measure, and has a
capacity of 30-50 mL

bile produced by the left and right portions
of the liver travel through the right and
left hepatic ducts (1-2 mm in diameter).
These two ducts join to form the common
hepatic duct

the common hepatic duct lies anterior to the portal vein and to the right of hepatic artery

the common hepatic duct descends
roughly 3 cm before the cystic duct (3-4
cm long) from the gallbladder joins it from
the right

the common bile duct passes posterior to
the first portion of the duodenum. It then
descends via a groove on the
superolateral portions of the posterior
head of the pancreas sometimes traveling
through the pancreas head. The four

at the head of the pancreas, the common
bile duct meets the pancreatic duct, and
they exit into the second part of the
duodenum, forming the hepatopancreatic
ampulla (ampulla of Vater)

pathologically, it is identified by
proliferation of the gallbladder mucosa
with diverticular outpuochings known as
Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses

typically cholesterol deposits are seen
within the gallbladder wall and cause a
comet tail artifact

the disease process is distinct from the
calculous variety, in which the primary
initiating event is believed to be
obstruction of the cystic duct

typically occurs as a secondary event in
patients who are hospitalized and acutely
ill from another cause

at least 3 mechanisms
a. systemic mediators of inflammation and
trauma
b. biliary stasis
c. generalized or localized ischemia

in turn, the mechanisms often result in
functional or secondary mechanical
obstruction of the cystic duct from
inflammation and bile viscosity

other sonographic findings
-gallstones
-positive Murphy\u2019s sign
-pericholecystic fluid as well as

chronic inflammation of the gallbladder
results from recurrent attacks of acute
cholecystitis

fibrotic reaction usually causes the
gallbladder to become small and
contracted

has been termed calcifying cholecystitis,
cholecystopathia chronic calcaria, or
calcified gallbladder

some have postulated that it is secondary to intramural hemorrhage or an imbalance in calcium metabolism

in Asia, pigmented stones predominate, although recent studies have shown an increase in cholesterol stones in the Far East

appear as single or multiple filling defects
within the gallbladder and are densely
calcified, rim calcified, laminated, or have
a central nidus of calcification