The gallbladder concentrates and stores bile as a pear-shaped sac which it can release to help digestion after a fatty meal.
Wristed Control at robotic console
This close-up of the surgeon's control demonstrates how the hand interacts with the machine during robotic surgery. The surgeon places his or her thumb and middle finger through the pinchers and then operates normally. The motions are translated by the computer and the robotic instruments to the bedside machine which then allow increase dexterity inside the body.
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.