Gall Stones
This section is about
Diseases
and Disorders of the Digestive System.
To read about other diseases, disorders, or conditions of the digestive
system, use the links on the left-side of this page.
See also glossary pages about
Tissues
and Organs of the
Digestive System.
A gallstone (which may also be written "gall stone") is a hard mass formed in the gall bladder from varying proportions of:
- Bile pigments
- Cholesterol, and
- Calcium salts.
Cause of gall stones:
The formation of gall stones in the gallbladder is called cholelithiasis and occurs when the physical characteristics of bile become such that cholesterol is less soluble.
Symptoms & Effects of gall stones:
- Gall stones may exist for many years without any
symptoms.
However, they may cause - Severe pain (biliary colic), or they may
- Pass into the common bile duct, leading to obstructive jaundice or cholangitis.
Medical Tests and Treatments for gall stones
may involve:
- Gall stones are usually diagnosed using ultrasonography but gall stones that contain calcium may be seen on a standard X-Ray image.
More about the Digestive System:
This section includes pages about:
- Introduction to the Digestive System
- Terminology about Digestion
- Passage through the alimentary tract
- Component Parts of the Digestive System, incl. Teeth, Stomach, Liver, Small Intestine, Large Intestine
- Chemical Processes in the Digestive System (introductory level)
- Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System
For further information see also our pages of books about gastroenterology.
- The digestive system (introduction)
- Digestive System Terminology
- Main Stages of the Digestive Process
- Transit through the Alimentary Canal
- Absorption Sites
- Structures of the mouth
- Teeth - as part of the digestive system
- Stomach
- Liver
- Small Intestine
- Large Intestine
- Defecation
- Digestive System Diseases & Disorders
