The gallbladder concentrates and stores bile as a pear-shaped sac which it can release to help digestion after a fatty meal.
Nissen fundoplication
Close-Up view of a Nissen Fundoplication performed for chronic reflux disease that was not alleviated by typical medical management. The gastroesophageal junction is rebuilt during the procedure by wrapping a portion of the stomach, the fundus, around the back of the stomach forming a ring.
Related Glossary Terms
The duodenum is a C-shaped tube that receives food from the stomach and prepares it for chemical digestion further along in the intestines.
The omentum is a fatty apron that serves a protective role and helps filter immune responses to gut bacteria.
The colon is a large tube that stores feces and also contains helpful bacteria that breaks down food that has not yet been absorbed.
The stomach is a muscular sac that is important for absorbing food and preparing food for further digestion.
The liver is a solid organ that produces bile for fat digestion and is also the first stop for the majority of absorbed nutrients.
The pancreas is a gland that produces chemicals for food break-down as well as a hormone system that regulates sugar.