Fossa for gallbladder

The fossa for the gallbladder is a shallow depression or groove found on the visceral surface of the liver in domestic animals, where the gallbladder is lodged. Its presence, location, and shape vary slightly among species due to anatomical differences in liver lobation and the biliary system.

Species Differences

• Dog (Canis lupus familiaris):

  • The gallbladder lies in a well-defined fossa between the quadrate lobe (medially) and the right medial lobe (laterally).

  • The fossa is relatively deep and can be easily observed on imaging or during dissection.

• Cat (Felis catus):

  • Similar to the dog, the gallbladder sits between the quadrate and right medial lobes.

  • In some cats, the gallbladder is bilobed or has a sigmoid shape, but the fossa remains in the same general region.

• Ox (Bos taurus):

  • The gallbladder is relatively small and located in a fossa between the quadrate and right lobes.

  • It is more cranially placed due to the orientation of the bovine liver (more vertical in position).

• Horse (Equus ferus caballus):

  • Absent. Horses do not have a gallbladder, and therefore, no fossa is present.

  • The bile duct drains directly from the liver to the duodenum.

• Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus):

  • The fossa lies between the right and quadrate lobes.

  • The gallbladder is relatively prominent and can extend ventrally beyond the liver’s edge.

• Sheep and Goat (Ovis aries and Capra hircus):

  • The gallbladder lies in a shallow fossa on the ventral surface, also between the right and quadrate lobes.

  • The liver in small ruminants is more flattened dorsoventrally, slightly affecting fossa orientation.