The gallbladder is located beneath the liver in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. It sits in a shallow depression called the gallbladder fossa on the visceral (underside) surface of the liver, roughly around the level of the 9th costal cartilage. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ approximately 7 to 10 centimeters (2.7 to 3.9 inches) long and up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide at its broadest point
. Anatomically, it lies in close proximity to several structures:
- Superiorly and anteriorly: the inferior border of the liver and anterior abdominal wall
- Posteriorly: the transverse colon and proximal duodenum
- Inferiorly: the biliary tree and other parts of the duodenum
The gallbladder connects to the biliary system via the cystic duct, which joins the common hepatic duct to form the common bile duct, allowing bile to flow into the small intestine for digestion
. In summary, the gallbladder is tucked under the liver on the right side of the upper abdomen, playing a key role in storing and concentrating bile produced by the liver to aid in fat digestion
