gallbladder

or gall blad·der

[ gawl-blad-er ]

noun

, Anatomy.

1. a pear-shaped, muscular sac attached to the undersurface of the right lobe of the liver, in which bile is stored and concentrated.

gallbladder

/ gôl′blăd′ər /

1. A small, pear-shaped muscular sac in most vertebrates in which bile is stored. The gallbladder is located beneath the liver and secretes bile into the duodenum of the small intestine.

gallbladder

1. A small, muscular sac located under the liver . Bile is stored in the gallbladder until it is needed by the small intestine for digestion . ( See digestive system .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallbladder¹

First recorded in 1670–80; gall ¹ + bladder

Example Sentences

In rare cases, serious side-effects can include gallbladder and kidney problems and depression.

From BBC

“My father, he’s 80 and he just had gallbladder surgery and the herbs seem to help,” one customer, Dericia Witalina, said while awaiting herbs her dad was prescribed.

From Los Angeles Times

Notably, these include cancers that are linked to obesity including "colorectum, uterine corpus, gallbladder and other biliary, kidney and renal pelvis, and pancreas" cancers.

From Salon

Someone seeking help for a urinary tract infection — which can be treated by telemedicine — might actually have gallbladder problems.

From Seattle Times

His gallbladder might burst at any time, a doctor warned, and the family had to decide whether Pedro was strong enough for surgery.

From Los Angeles Times