The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located just below the liver. Its function is to store and release bile, a greenish fluid that helps the body digest fats.
This small but important organ can be affected by various diseases, of which gallstones are the most common. The gallbladder can also be affected by acute cholecystitis, gallstone pancreatitis, and, rarely, gallbladder cancer.
When one of these conditions affects the organ, pain develops that can also be felt in other parts of the body, such as the back or chest. Problems with the gallbladder can also cause fever, itching, fatigue, bloating, and vomiting.
