GI 23 Flashcards
What is the gallbladder?
The site of bile storage and concentration
What are the important bil components?
- Bile salts
- Bilirubin
- Lipids
What are the two types of Gallstones?
- Cholesterol
* Calcium bilirubinate
When do Cholesterol stones develop?
When the concentration of cholesterol in the bile increases to the point where it precipitates out of a solution into crystals
What is the solubility of cholesterol like in bile?
It has a low solubility but remains in solution as part of micelles
What is increased biliary cholesterol the result of?
Increased hepatic secretion or too much ion and water absorption
What is the impact of gallstone formation determined by?
Their size and location they become trapped
What is the outcome with small gallstones?
They can easily be passed into the intestine and excreted
What is the outcome with large bile stones leaving the gallbladder?
- They can get trapped leaving the gallbladder
- They can cause pain but digestion is largely unaffected because bile can be directly secreted from the liver into the small intestine
What is the outcome with large bile stones that get trapped in the common bile duct?
- bile secretion is impaired
* Consequences in terms of fat digestion/absorption and fat soluble vitamins
What might undigested fats contribute to?
Diarrhea
What are the consequences of backflow of bile?
- Inhibits bile secretion
- Decreased bilirubin excretion
- Obstructive jaundice
Where is the worst spot to get a gallstone?
Hepatopancreatic ampulla of vater
Why is it the worst to get a gallstone at the Hepatopancreatic ampulla of vater?
Because it blocks bile AND pancreatic secretion
What are the consequences of Hepatopancreatic ampulla of vater being blocked?
- No nutrient absorption
* Nutritional deficiency
