Mechanism of formation of gallstones

The article was consulted professionally by Master, Dr. Duong Xuan Loc – Doctor of External Medicine – General Department of General Surgeon – Share99 Da Nang International Health Hub.

<!– –>

Gallbladder stones are a common pathology that many people suffer from. But why does the gallbladder have stones, how do gallstones form? What types of gallbladder stones are there? This article will help you better understand the disease.

1. What is gallstones

The gallbladder is a small part shaped like a pear, which is blue. The location of the gallbladder is located on the underside of the right hepatic lobe, taking on the role of retention and bile secret service. Bile secreted by the liver, part of the bile will enter the gallbladder and be densed, then taken down to the intestines to participate in the digestion of food.

Gallbladder stones are essentially a solid form formed in the gallbladder through an imbalance of components in the bile fluid. Gallbladder stones are of various types, therefore they also have the same mechanism of formation of gallstones.

gallstones

Gallbladder stones are formed from various causes

2. Types of gallstones and their mechanism of formation

Gallstones are divided into 3 types: Cholesterol stones, bile pigmentation stones, bile salt stones. Each type will have different causes of gallbladder stones forming differently.

2.1 Cholesterol stones

Cholesterol stones have a predominantly cholesterol composition, and are the most common type of stones. Cholesterol is excreted by the liver into the bile (which is one of the mechanisms to eliminate excess cholesterol), and in order for bile to transport cholesterol, cholesterol must be dissolved in bile.

However, cholesterol is a fat and bile fluid is essentially water, so in order for cholesterol to dissolve in bile, the liver must also synthesize two bile acids from cholesterol, cholic acid and cheno desoxycholic acid. These two acids combine with glycin and taurin in liver cells to form bile salts that dissolve cholesterol into bile.

When cholesterol is dissolved in the bile, it can be transported by bile duc duc ducs. These bile acids are called primitive bile acids, when the intestinal tract becomes a second bile acid, cholic acid becomes desoxycholic acid, which then becomes lithocholic acid and eventually eliminated by feces.

So how are gallstones formed? Gallstones will be formed when for some reason an imbalance between the amount of cholesterol and bile salts appears. If the liver excretes too much cholesterol then there will not be enough bile acids and soluble lecithin, which obviously leads to an unsoluble amount of cholesterol.

Similarly, if the amount of cholesterol is normal, but insufficient amounts of bile acids and lecithin also lead to an unsoluble amount of cholesterol. In both of the above cases, the amount of unsoluble cholesterol will bind together, forming cholesterol particles, gradually increasing in size and eventually forming gallstones.

Besides, there are two other processes that promote the formation of cholesterol stones. The first is that some individuals with special muscles have an abnormally fast formation and development of cholesterol particles for the formation of gallstones. Therefore, the same levels of cholesterol, bile acids and lecithin but patients with gallstones form cholesterol particles faster than normal people.

The second process involves a decrease in the ability to contract and remove bile from the gallbladder, causing the bile to stay inside the gallbladder longer, facilitating the formation and development of cholesterol particles.

cholesterol stones

Cholesterol stones are one of the most common types of stones

2.2 Bile pigmentation stones

Bile pigmentation stones are the second most common type of gallstones, consisting of two types: black pigment gallstones and brown pigment gallstones.

Bile pigment is a residue product formed from hemoglobin found in red blood cells. Old red blood cells when destroyed release hemoglobin, converted into bilirubin and released into the bloodstream. Bilirubin is converted by the liver and excreted into the bile.

If in bile there is too much bilirubin, then bilirubin can combine with other components in the bile (such as calci) and form pigment stones. Due to the reason that pigments are poorly soluble in bile, they easily combine together to form particles, which then gradually increase in size and eventually form gallstones. The pigmented stones that form along this path are called black pigmented stones because they are black and hard.

If the gallbladder reduces contractions or the flow of bile is hindered for some reason, bacteria from the duodenum can go backwards up the bile duct and gallbladder, transforming the bilirubin found here. Bilirubin has since transformed in combination with calci to form bile pigments, which then combine with the fats found in the bile that form the particles that grow into gallstones called brown pigment stones (since it is slightly brownish black but softer than black pigment stones).

2.3 Gallstones

Bile salts when crystallied form gravel that usually combines with calci and will be red.

Gallstones if not detected and treated in a timely manner will cause blockage of the bile duct, causing serious health effects. To determine exactly if you have gallstones, you can go to a medical facility for an abdominal ultrasound or MRI or CT Scanner.

For direct advice, please click the HOTLINE number or register online HERE. In addition, you can register for remote consultation HERE

SEE MORE:

  • How do gallstones form?
  • Consequences of bile reflux
  • Gallbladder polyps: Anxiety about cancer potential

About: John Smith

b1ffdb54307529964874ff53a5c5de33?s=90&r=gI am the author of Share99.net. I had been working in Vinmec International General Hospital for over 10 years. I dedicate my passion on every post in this site.

RELATED POSTS:

Leave a Comment

0 SHARES
Share
Tweet
Pin