Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus IV: Organ Systems: Digestive System and Spleen

Gallbladder

Ronald A. Bergman, PhD
Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS
Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

The gallbladder may be absent, in which case the hepatic duct is dilated within the liver or in some part of its course. In three studies, the congenital absence of the gallbladder was reported as follows. In 1) 18,350 autopsies the incidence of absence was 0.065%; 2) in 7,919 autopsies, 0.075%; and 3) in 3,661 autopsies, 0.03%.

The gallbladder and cystic duct may be absence.

Somtimes the gallbladder is irregular in form or constricted across its middle; more rarely, it is partially divided in a longitudinal direction.

Cases have been recorded in which there were two distinct gallbladders, each having a cystic duct that joined the hepatic duct. The cystic duct may itself be doubled. Doubled gallbladders have been found in 5 of 19,000 (0.026%) patients.

The gallbladder has been found on the left side (to the left of the ligamentum teres) in subjects in whom there was no general tranposition of the thoracic and abdominal viscera.

The gallbladder may be intrahepatic or beneath the left lobe. Ectopic sites include retrohepatic positions, or in the anterior abdominal wall or falciform ligament, they may be suprahepatic or transversely position, floating, or retroperitoneal. They may be in the midline anterior epigastric above the left lobe or suprahepatic above the right hepatic lobe.

The right and left divisions of the hepatic duct sometimes continue separately for some distance within the lesser omentum.

The common bile duct may open separately from the pancreatic duct into the duodenum. There may be one or two distinct duodenal papillae.

Anomalous pancreatic tissue is occasionally found in the wall of the gallbladder.

Insertion of Aberrant Bile Ducts

Accessory Extrahepatic Ducts

Gallbladder Variations

Duplication of Common Bile Duct

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, Variant Arterial Anatomy

References

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