RT Journal
A1 WHITAKER LR
T1 PRoblems in normal and in abnormal physiology of the gallbladder
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 1929
FD April 1
VO 18
IS 4
SP 1783
OP 1802
DO 10.1001/archsurg.1929.01140130883058
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1929.01140130883058
AB Knowledge of the physiology of the gallbladder has taken great strides during recent years, but there is still much about this apparently simple organ that is baffling. It is known that the gallbladder stores and concentrates bile during the intervals of digestion and expels it into the intestines on demand. But the specific stimulus and the mechanism through which the contents of the gallbladder are expelled have not been worked out thoroughly. The mechanism for concentration of bile in the gallbladder through absorption of water seems simple, but other functions of the mucosa through which other materials are absorbed are not understood. Ordinarily during fasting, the gallbladder is distended with concentrated bile which tends to become inspissated if the vesicle fails to empty. During this process, varying amounts of mucus are secreted. Though one may assume that this mucus tends to prevent excessive inspissation or to act as a lubricant