Gallbladder of an Obese Black Male

Description

Posteriorly, the right upper quadrant is opened through a semi-transparent back view, placing the gallbladder on the visceral surface of the liver, inferior to the right hemidiaphragm and deep to the lower costal cartilages. The fundus projects anteroinferiorly toward the abdominal wall, while the body tapers into the neck, which turns posteromedially to continue as the cystic duct within the hepatocystic triangle (Calot triangle). Proximal intrahepatic bile ducts converge into the right and left hepatic ducts, forming the common hepatic duct, which joins the cystic duct to create the common bile duct descending toward the head of the pancreas. Adipose thickness consistent with obesity alters the surface landmarks but not the biliary relationships. For clinical teaching, this orientation supports discussion of biliary colic and acute calculous cholecystitis, where obstruction at the cystic duct or Hartmann pouch distends the gallbladder and irritates the adjacent parietal peritoneum. Murphy sign, when present, correlates with the gallbladder’s position under the right costal margin during inspiration, and the posterior perspective helps learners reconcile pain patterns with diaphragmatic contact and referred shoulder pain via the phrenic nerve. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy hinges on correctly identifying the cystic duct and cystic artery, and obesity is a common factor increasing technical difficulty and risk of bile duct injury if the critical view of safety is not obtained. A hard stop. Use this asset in hepatobiliary anatomy blocks, general surgery teaching files, and publisher figures explaining extrahepatic biliary anatomy, cholelithiasis, and operative landmarks, with representation appropriate for an obese Black adult male. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.