GLOSSARY

The common bile duct is a duct about 6–8 centimetres long and less than about 6 millimetres wide, formed by the union of the common hepatic duct and the cystic duct, that delivers bile to the duodenum.

Course

• Supraduodenal part: in the free edge of the lesser omentum (with the portal vein and hepatic artery).
• Retroduodenal part: behind the first part of the duodenum.
• Pancreatic part: in a groove on, or within, the head of the pancreas.
• Intramural part: joins the pancreatic duct to form the ampulla of Vater in the second part of the duodenum, controlled by the sphincter of Oddi.

A Note

The shared channel of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct at the ampulla explains why a gallstone lodged there may cause both jaundice and pancreatitis.

Clinical Application