What are gallstones?
The gallbladder is a small organ that lies beneath the liver. The function of the gallbladder is to concentrate and store bile. Bile is required to digest and absorb fatty food. As a meal containing fat is consumed, the gallbladder contracts and empties into the bowel where is mixed and helps to digest food.
Gallstones are solid, stone like structures that form inside the gallbladder. There are two main types of stones; cholesterol or pigment. Cholesterol stones are a lot more common than pigment stones.