Gallstones are hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder, a small organ beneath the liver that stores bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. These stones are typically made of cholesterol or bilirubin, and they vary in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball
. Gallstones develop when there is an imbalance in the chemical composition of bile, often due to excess cholesterol or bilirubin, or insufficient bile salts. This imbalance causes the substances to crystallize and form stones
. Most gallstones do not cause symptoms and are called "silent" gallstones. However, if a gallstone blocks a bile duct, it can cause sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen, known as biliary colic or a gallbladder attack. Complications from gallstones can include inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), jaundice, pancreatitis, or infections of the bile ducts
. Treatment is usually only necessary if gallstones cause symptoms or complications. The most common treatment is surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy), often performed laparoscopically. People can live normally without a gallbladder, as bile flows directly from the liver to the small intestine
. In summary, gallstones are solid particles formed from bile components in the gallbladder, which may remain symptomless or cause pain and complications requiring medical intervention
