Common hepatic duct

Structure

The common hepatic duct is the first part of the biliary tract. It is formed by the union of the right hepatic duct (which drains bile from the right functional lobe of the liver) and the left hepatic duct (which drains bile from the left functional lobe of the liver).

The duct is about 3 cm long.**** The common hepatic duct is about 6 mm in diameter in adults, with some variation.

Termination

The common hepatic duct typically unites with the cystic duct some 1–2 cm superior to the duodenum and anterior to the right hepatic artery, with the cystic duct approaching the common hepatic duct from the right.****

Relations

The right branch of the hepatic artery proper usually passes posterior to the duct, but may rarely pass anterior to it instead.****

Histology

The inner surface is covered in a simple columnar epithelium.

Variation

Accessory hepatic ducts

Around 1.7% of people have additional accessory hepatic ducts that opens into the common hepatic duct. Accessory hepatic ducts may also instead open into the cystic duct or gallbladder.****

Termination

Occasionally, the cystic duct may first run along the right side of the common bile duct for some distance before joining it, or may pass posteriorly around to the common hepatic duct to unite with it from the left side.****

Rarely, the common hepatic duct and gallbladder join directly (with the cystic duct being absent),**** leading to illness.

Function

The hepatic duct is part of the biliary tract that transports secretions from the liver into the intestines.

Clinical significance

Cholecystectomy

The common hepatic ducts carries a higher volume of bile in people who have had their gallbladder removed.

The common hepatic duct is an important anatomic landmark during surgeries such as cholecystectomy. It forms one edge of Calot's triangle, along with the cystic duct and the cystic artery. All constituents of this triangle must be identified to avoid cutting or clipping the wrong structure.

Cholestasis

A diameter of more than 8 mm is regarded as abnormal dilatation, and is a sign of cholestasis.

Mirizzi's syndrome

Mirizzi's syndrome occurs when the common hepatic duct is blocked by gallstones.

Additional images

File:Biliary system new.svg |Biliary tract File:Abdominal cavity.jpg|Common hepatic duct File:Slide13ffff.JPG|Common hepatic duct File:Bilebladder.png|The portal vein and its tributaries File:Gray1095-gall bladder.png|The gall-bladder and bile ducts laid open

References

References

1. (2014-01-01). "Chapter 45 - Liver Stem Cells". Academic Press.
2. (2008-01-01). "CHAPTER 14 - Alimentary Tract (Esophagus, Stomach, Small Intestine, Colon, Rectum, Anus, Biliary Tract)". W.B. Saunders.
3. Sinnatamby, Chummy S.. (2011). "Last's Anatomy".
4. Gray's Anatomy, 39th ed, p. 1228
5. (2012-01-01). "3 - Developmental abnormalities and liver disease in childhood". Churchill Livingstone.
6. (2006). "Normal and Pathologic Features of the Postoperative Biliary Tract at 3D MR Cholangiopancreatography and MR Imaging". RadioGraphics.
7. Katz, Seth S.. (2017-01-01). "Chapter 18 - Computed tomography of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas". Elsevier.