Illustration of stones in the gall bladder. Gall- stones develop when a chemical imbalance occurs in the bile that is stored in the gall bladder. Here

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Illustration of stones in the gall bladder. Gall- stones develop when a chemical imbalance occurs in the bile that is stored in the gall bladder. Here, a large stone can be seen, and a collection of smaller stones. The shape of gallstones varies: from round to oval, smooth or faceted lumps, 1-25 mm across. Most commonly they occur when the liver puts too much cholesterol into the bile (which occurs in obesity), or fails to dissolve the cho- lesterol already there. Stones can get stuck in the bile duct, or block bile secretion. Only about 20% of gallstones cause symptoms, mainly in over- weight people. They can be removed with drugs or shock-wave treatment that shatters the stones.

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Size: 3654px × 2465px
Photo credit: © JOHN BAVOSI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: art, artwork, bile, bladder, cholesterol, condition, disease, disorder, duct, gall, gall-stone, gall-stones, gallstone, gallstones, healthcare, medical, medicine, stone, stones