The gall bladder resembles a sac secured along the inferior surface of the liver. The main function of the gall bladder is to store the bile it receives from the liver at an increased concentration than it was received. It successfully stores anywhere from 35 milliliters to about 50 milliliters; the amounts determined and restricted via the sphincter valve at the neck of the gall bladder. The inner layer of the gall bladder, the mucosa layer, is very similar to the inner mucosa layer of the stomach, containing folds within the mucosa. This permits expansion, just like the stomach, however, the gall bladder is expanding with bile rather than food. Fully expanded, the gall bladder resembles a pear.

 Bile is the digestive fluid which is made up of mostly bile salts with a yellow-green appearance. Bile also contains biliruben, cholesterol, and a few additional compounds. Biliruben is the product that is left after food is broken down into its molecular structure.

 The muscularis is able to eject bile somewhat forcefully with a simple contraction of the muscular tissue. The liver is in constant production of bile, which then of course drains into the hepatic duct to the common bile duct until it finally reaches the duodenum. The gall bladder receives extra bile for storage when the small intestine is devoid of food remnants. In this case, the sphincter muscle (sphincter of ampulla) contracts rapidly to force the remaining bile back into the gall bladder.

 The blood supply to the gall bladder is received via the cystic artery, a branch of the right hepatic artery. Venous return happens via the cystic vein, which then joins the hepatic portal vein. The gall bladder and the liver are innervated almost identically. Sympathetic innervation is received via the thoracolumnar nerves through the celiac ganglia. Parasympathetic innervation happens via the vagus nerve.

 Please note that if you are in severe pain and particularly if your attack symptoms are accompanied by fever DO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. The following symptoms are typical of a gallbladder attack:

 Moderate to severe pain under the right side of the rib cage

 Pain may radiate through to the back or to the right shoulder

 Severe upper abdominal pain (biliary colic)

 Nausea

 Queasiness

 Vomiting

 Gas

 Burping or belching

 Attacks are often at night

 Attacks often occur after overeating

 Pain will often but not always follow a meal with fats or grease

 Pain may be worse with deep inhalation

 Attacks can last from 15 minutes to 15 hours

 People can go for years with digestive symptoms and never realize that they may be related to a gallbladder problem. That's because they are so inter-related with other digestive symptoms. Constipation is one of the most commonly missed ones. The list provided here may be related to gallbladder but bear in mind that it could also be something else. The first four mentioned I feel are most indicative of gallbladder issues. It is not necessary to have all or many symptoms to have gallbladder problems but the more you have from this list, the more confirmation you have that the gallbladder is involved. Please note that it is still adviseable to consult your doctor for an acurate diagnosis. Gallbladder attack symptoms are listed below and again with more detailed explanation when you answer the three-minute symptom questionnaire at the top of this page. To get a clearer picture of the causes of gallbladder symptoms check out risk factors for gallbladder disease.

 Pain or tenderness under the rib cage on the right side

 Indigestion after eating, especially fatty or greasy foods

 Nausea

 Burping or belching

 Constipation

 Dizziness

 Bloating

 Feeling of fullness or food not digesting

 Diarrhea (or alternating from soft to watery)

 Gas

 Headache over eyes, especially right

 Bitter fluid comes up after eating

 Pain between shoulder blades

 Stools light or chalky colored

 Frequent use of laxatives

 Symtpoms of a gallbladder attack are often caused by gallbladder stones. A stone may block the neck of the gallbladder or get stuck in a bile duct inhibiting the flow of bile or possibly causing a backing up of bile. However, short of causing an actual attack, stones may be present for years and never cause any symptoms at all. "Biliary pain can occur in about a third of the gallstone patients" (which leaves two thirds NOT experiencing pain) and "sometimes the gallstone symptoms are difficult to differentiate from that of dyspepsia." (indigestion)3 The gallstones can impair the functioning of the gallbladder, however, which can result in any of the common gallbladder symptoms.

 Gallbladder symptoms can look and feel the same with or without stones. Therefore, all of the symptoms on listed on this page can accompany gallstones and gallstones can also be asymptomatic meaning you do not have any symptoms. These are called "silent gallstones".