Hard, pebble-like deposits that form in the gallbladder and can cause pain or health problems when they get stuck or cause inflammation.
Compound of 'gall' (from Old English 'gealla,' related to the bitter bile produced in the gallbladder) and 'stone.' The word literally describes the nature of the condition: stones forming in the gall.
Gallstones are made of hardened cholesterol and bile, and they're incredibly common—about 20% of people will develop them, yet many never know because they cause no symptoms, making the gallbladder a sneaky organ that quietly forms rocks inside your body.
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