the gallbladder

[Guest guest]

;

From all the information I've gathered and come to understand it appears the

gallbladder loads and

empties numerous times throughout the day, with the capacity of the

gallbladder

being around two tablespoons or one ounce of bile. However, keeping in mind

that this is a

concentrated bile it is worth ten times the bile from the liver because of

around 90% the

water having been removed. So that two table spoons full equates to a couple

of ounces of regular bile coming directly from the liver, and can be

delivered much quicker to deal with a fatty meal.

The liver is producing around 500 to 1000 or even more milliliter of bile a

day with portions of that getting into the gallbladder for concentrating it

by the removal of water. The gallbladder is suppose to release all of its

contents when it gets a signal to provide its contents to emulsify the fats

awaiting it in the small intestines. The failure of the gallbladder to

completely empty its contents is one of the suspect reasons as to why stones

will form there.

http://www.gastro.org/public/gallstones.html

http://www.marysherbs.com/anat-gal.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/presentations/100021_7097.htm

http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_home/sec10/121.htm

http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/digesyst/newdiges.htm

Dale

>>>>>>>>>>

This is for anyone who knows about the gallbladder's actions and it's sort

of

a twofold question. When we eat foods that require bile for digestion, does

the gallbladder release a certain portion of it's bile depending on the

amount of fat in the food? Or does it just contract and release all that it

has and then start filling up again? And is there such a thing as a

stronger

contraction of the gallbladder, or are we just inclined to feel that way

because of those times when we've had attacks? I mean - is it actually a

'stronger' contraction, or is it just that we're aware of it because of the

blockage that exists at the time? Could it be that the intensity of the

pain

is related to the amount of blockage (full or partial) ?

If anyone understands what I'm getting at, I'll be amazed.

in health,

rachel~

<<<<<<<<<<

[Guest guest]

Here's a question to throw into this discussion about the gallbladder that

Dale and Barry are having. (Which I find interesting - you both write of

things that I think about but just don't have the inclination to put into

words, so I appreciate it!!)

This is for anyone who knows about the gallbladder's actions and it's sort of

a twofold question. When we eat foods that require bile for digestion, does

the gallbladder release a certain portion of it's bile depending on the

amount of fat in the food? Or does it just contract and release all that it

has and then start filling up again? And is there such a thing as a stronger

contraction of the gallbladder, or are we just inclined to feel that way

because of those times when we've had attacks? I mean - is it actually a

'stronger' contraction, or is it just that we're aware of it because of the

blockage that exists at the time? Could it be that the intensity of the pain

is related to the amount of blockage (full or partial) ?

If anyone understands what I'm getting at, I'll be amazed.

in health,

rachel~

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it and ignorance may deride

it, but in the end there it is. " Winston Churchill

[Guest guest]

Dale,

thank you for your response. I will check out those links later today. In

the meantime, do you know about whether or not there is such a thing as a

" stronger " contraction or if they are all the same to the gallbladder but

just feel differently to us due to the level of blockage at that particular

time?

thanks,

rachel~

" Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right " - Henry Ford

[Guest guest]

>with the capacity of the gallbladder

I thought that I had read somewhere that the

gall bladder is approx. the size of a thumb

(who's thumb, I don't know :-) - is that what

you hear read? If this is the case, then I

am amazed at all the stones that can fit in

it. claudia

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/29/02 1:00:13 PM Eastern Standard Time,

claudiameydrech@... writes:

> I thought that I had read somewhere that the

> gall bladder is approx. the size of a thumb

> (who's thumb, I don't know :-) - is that what

> you hear read? If this is the case, then I

> am amazed at all the stones that can fit in

> it. claudia

>

Yes, that's what I've read, approximately. But it holds a cup of bile, so

that gives us an idea of it's flexibility. And some of those stones are

pretty small and a lot of them come from the liver and bile ducts as well, so

they aren't necessarily actually all coming directly from the gallbladder.

Interesting that such a little thing could cause so much of a hassle, eh?

rachel~

" Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right " - Henry Ford

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 04/01/2002 9:58:47 AM Eastern Standard Time,

Da_@... writes:

<<

If you have a site that says the gallbladder will hold a cup of bile could

you post it or send it to me so I can put it in my list of sites? All I've

got are sites saying it holds approximately one ounce and I've been watching

for one that would say it would hold even more thatn two tablespoons of

liquid.

>>

Absolutely, Dale. I'm sure I have it on my computer at home.

Or I could have egg on my face and discover that I'm completely wrong.

Either way, I'll let you know when I get home.

rachel~

[Guest guest]

We had a discussion here about this just before you joined, I think.

Some sources say the thumb, others say a small fist. Someone looked

it up, and from what I could gather it looks like the gallbladder is

larger than that little thumb sticking out from your hand, more like

the entire thumb including the bone extending towards the wrist.

Also, it's flexible, but it's still amazing.

Many stones could come from the liver rather than from the gallbladder, though.

-- Helge

> >with the capacity of the gallbladder

>

>I thought that I had read somewhere that the

>gall bladder is approx. the size of a thumb

>(who's thumb, I don't know :-) - is that what

>you hear read? If this is the case, then I

>am amazed at all the stones that can fit in

>it. claudia

[Guest guest]

<<<<<<<<<

> I thought that I had read somewhere that the

> gall bladder is approx. the size of a thumb

> (who's thumb, I don't know :-) - is that what

> you hear read? If this is the case, then I

> am amazed at all the stones that can fit in

> it. claudia

>

Yes, that's what I've read, approximately. But it holds a cup of bile, so

that gives us an idea of it's flexibility. And some of those stones are

pretty small and a lot of them come from the liver and bile ducts as well,

so

they aren't necessarily actually all coming directly from the gallbladder

>>>>>>>>>>

;

If you have a site that says the gallbladder will hold a cup of bile could

you post it or send it to me so I can put it in my list of sites? All I've

got are sites saying it holds approximately one ounce and I've been watching

for one that would say it would hold even more thatn two tablespoons of

liquid.

Dale

[Guest guest]

barry91162@... writes:

> By ultrasound, my gallbladder masures 12cm by 5cm. It is bigger than

> my thumb but smaller than my fist. This might help with 'prespective'.

> Then again, I'm a man, but my thumb is bigger than a womans. That

> doesn't make sense. hahaha It would be relative.

It does make sense, Barry, in a similar way that they say the heart is as big

as your fist, or that your foot is the same length as from your elbow to your

wrist (or so I've heard). It is all relative. My heart may be bigger than

yours but my gallbladder could be smaller and so on.... It is all relative,

just as you said.

My ultrasound report shows the measurements of the kidneys, but doesn't

indicate the size of my gallbladder except that the wall is 2 mm in thickness

and that the common bile duct measures 6 mm. That information is of no use

to this discussion, I know. I just threw it out there because I didn't

have anything else to report! lol

in health,

rachel~

rachel~

" Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right " - Henry Ford

[Guest guest]

& Rach,

By ultrasound, my gallbladder masures 12cm by 5cm. It is bigger than

my thumb but smaller than my fist. This might help with 'prespective'.

Then again, I'm a man, but my thumb is bigger than a womans. That

doesn't make sense. hahaha It would be relative.

Barry.

> In a message dated 3/29/02 1:00:13 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> claudiameydrech@c... writes:

>

>

> > I thought that I had read somewhere that the

> > gall bladder is approx. the size of a thumb

> > (who's thumb, I don't know :-) - is that what

> > you hear read? If this is the case, then I

> > am amazed at all the stones that can fit in

> > it. claudia

> >

>

> Yes, that's what I've read, approximately. But it holds a cup of

bile, so

> that gives us an idea of it's flexibility. And some of those

stones are

> pretty small and a lot of them come from the liver and bile ducts

as well, so

> they aren't necessarily actually all coming directly from the

gallbladder.

>

> Interesting that such a little thing could cause so much of a

hassle, eh?

>

> rachel~

> " Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right " -

Henry Ford

>

>

>