Morphometric Study of Gallbladder in Cadavers

Abstract

Background & Aims : The gallbladder and biliary tract are structures that are in close proximity to the adjacent organs and can exhibit a variety of anomalies and anatomic variations. However, the literature on morphological variations of the gallbladder and their prevalence are limited. This study aims to identify various anatomical variations in gallbladder shape and position that should be considered for clinical implications, investigative procedures, radiological studies, surgical interventions, embryological explanations, and comparative anatomy. Aim of this study is to study the morphology of gallbladder in cadavers. Materials & Methods: This study was done on 100 cadaveric liver and gallbladder specimens available in the Department of Anatomy, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar, India. Parameters such as maximum transverse diameter and maximum length were measured with help of metallic tape. Each specimen was studied for morphological variations. The observations were tabulated and analysed statistically. Results: Gallbaladder samples had length ranging between 3.3 and 12 cm, transverse diameter between 2.0 and 5.0 cm. The commonest shape observed in this study was pear shaped in 84% of cases. The length of gallbladder below the inferior border of liver varied between 0.4 and 2.5 cm. Conclusion: The anatomic variations of the gallbladder and biliary tract are critical during their surgical procedures. The present study describes the different anatomic variations of human gallbladder and its clinical importance. This study will greatly assist surgeons in understanding the possible morphology of the gallbladder.