MEDICAL BIOLOGY, HUMAN ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY - Ya.I. Fedonyuk 2010

ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, PATHOLOGY

SECTION 7. THE NUTRITIONAL PROCESS AND ITS PATHOLOGY

PATHOLOGY OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

PATHOLOGY OF THE GALLBLADDER AND BILIARY TRACT

3.CHOLELITHIASIS

Cholelithiasis is a common disorder that most frequently affects individuals over 40 years of age, with a higher prevalence in women.

The morphological substrate of cholelithiasis consists of gallstones located in the Gallbladder and biliary tract. Gallstones are composed of normal Bile components: bilirubin, Cholesterol, and calcium. Mixed stones containing these ingredients in varying proportions are the most common. When one component significantly predominates, stones are classified as cholesterol, pigment, or calcareous.

In the majority of patients, the bile is infected. Infection causes damage to the gallbladder wall and epithelial desquamation. This leads to the Formation of primary precipitation nuclei (Bacteria, mucus clumps, epithelial Cells), which serve as a matrix for the crystallization of the main bile constituents.

Prolonged bile stasis facilitates the crystallization of the components that form the future stone and their extended retention within the lumen of the gallbladder.

Cholelithiasis may be asymptomatic, with gallstones discovered incidentally during examinations for other conditions or at autopsy. The characteristic clinical manifestation of cholelithiasis is a biliary (hepatic) colic attack.



Last update: 08/08/2026

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