Gallbladder of an Obese Black Male, Anterior View

Description

Anterior anatomical orientation places the vesica fellea (gallbladder) on the visceral surface of the liver, inferior to the right lobe and lateral to the falciform ligament, with the fundus projecting toward the anterior abdominal wall near the right costal margin. A short neck leads into the cystic duct, which joins the common hepatic duct to form the common bile duct in the porta hepatis region. Superior to this biliary confluence the liver dominates the right upper quadrant, while the esophagus descends in the midline to enter the stomach just left of the liver. Coiled small intestine occupies the central and inferior abdomen beneath the gastric outlet. Obesity changes what clinicians can palpate and where ultrasound windows open, so an anterior view that fixes the gallbladder’s relationship to the costal margin, liver edge, and stomach helps explain common limitations in right upper quadrant exams. Biliary colic and acute cholecystitis often present with pain under the right ribs and a sonographic Murphy sign, and gallstones commonly lodge at the infundibulum or cystic duct. Surgical teaching also benefits from a clear anterior roadmap of the cystic duct and common bile duct trajectory, where misidentification can lead to bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Landmarks matter. Use this artwork in gross anatomy and GI/hepatobiliary blocks to orient students to the biliary tree before they meet cross sectional imaging, and in clinical handouts discussing gallstone disease in adult men, including populations at risk for delayed diagnosis. It also fits surgical atlases or patient education materials that need a straightforward anterior digestive organ layout with the gallbladder emphasized. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.