Bile duct

The bile duct refers to any of several ducts that transport bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum. Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver that aids in the digestion and absorption of fats.

The primary bile ducts are the hepatic ducts, cystic duct, and common bile duct.

• Hepatic ducts: These ducts drain bile from the liver. The left and right hepatic ducts emerge from the left and right lobes of the liver, respectively, and join to form the common hepatic duct.

• Cystic duct: This duct connects the gallbladder to the common hepatic duct. It allows bile to be stored in the gallbladder and released when needed for digestion.

• Common bile duct: This duct is formed by the union of the common hepatic duct and the cystic duct. It carries bile to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. The common bile duct typically joins with the pancreatic duct (duct of Wirsung) to form the ampulla of Vater, which empties into the duodenum at the major duodenal papilla.

The function of the bile ducts is crucial for proper digestion and absorption of fats, as well as for the elimination of certain waste products from the body via the bile. Blockage or obstruction of the bile ducts, often caused by gallstones, tumors, or inflammation, can lead to jaundice, abdominal pain, and other digestive problems.