Gallstones

Gallstones

Gallstones (/ˈɡɔːlˌstoʊnz/) are hard, pebble-like deposits that form inside the gallbladder. They can range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball.

Etymology

The term "gallstone" is derived from the Old English words "gall", meaning bile, and "stan", meaning stone. It was first used in the 13th century.

Types of Gallstones

There are two main types of gallstones: cholesterol stones and pigment stones. Cholesterol stones, which are usually yellow in color, are made primarily of hardened cholesterol and account for about 80% of gallstones. Pigment stones, on the other hand, are small, dark stones made of bilirubin.

Causes

Gallstones are caused by an imbalance in the substances that make up bile. This can occur if the liver excretes more cholesterol than the bile can dissolve, if the liver excretes too much bilirubin, or if the gallbladder does not empty completely or often enough.

Symptoms

Most people with gallstones do not experience symptoms. However, if a gallstone blocks one of the bile ducts, it can cause sudden, intense pain in the upper right part of the abdomen. This condition is known as a gallbladder attack.

Treatment

Treatment for gallstones usually involves surgery to remove the gallbladder, a procedure known as a cholecystectomy. In some cases, medications may be used to dissolve the gallstones.

Related Terms

• Bile
• Bile ducts
• Cholecystectomy
• Cholesterol stones
• Gallbladder
• Gallbladder attack
• Liver
• Pigment stones

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Gallstones
• Wikipedia's article - Gallstones

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski