Common hepatic duct

<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
<p>The common hepatic duct is the first part of the biliary tract.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> 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).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a>
</p><p>The duct is about 3 cm long.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> The common hepatic duct is about 6 mm in diameter in adults, with some variation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>Termination</h3>
<p>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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>Relations</h3>
<p>The right branch of the <a href="/facts/Hepatic_artery_proper/uPsHWQkl">hepatic artery proper</a> usually passes posterior to the duct, but may rarely pass anterior to it instead.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>Histology</h3>
<p>The inner surface is covered in a <a href="/facts/Simple_columnar_epithelium/CGUvf5zy">simple columnar epithelium</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>Variation</h3>
<p>Accessory hepatic ducts
</p><p>Around 1.7%<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> of people have additional accessory hepatic ducts that opens into the common hepatic duct.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> Accessory hepatic ducts may also instead open into the cystic duct or gallbladder.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a>
</p><p>Termination
</p><p>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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a>
</p><p>Rarely, the common hepatic duct and gallbladder join directly (with the cystic duct being absent),<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> leading to illness.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="function">Function</h2>
<p>The hepatic duct is part of the <a href="/facts/Biliary_tract/NJPQ5oy4">biliary tract</a> that transports secretions from the liver into the <a href="/facts/Intestine/nK2zwqBS">intestines</a>.
</p>
<h2 id="clinical-significance">Clinical significance</h2>
<h3>Cholecystectomy</h3>
<p>The common hepatic ducts carries a higher volume of bile in people who have had their gallbladder removed.
</p><p>The common hepatic duct is an important anatomic landmark during surgeries such as <a href="/facts/Cholecystectomy/petQE34t">cholecystectomy</a>. It forms one edge of <a href="/facts/Cystohepatic_triangle/rCzVCjJg">Calot's triangle</a>, along with the cystic duct and the <a href="/facts/Cystic_artery/1MAC2AJk">cystic artery</a>. All constituents of this triangle must be identified to avoid cutting or clipping the wrong structure.
</p>
<h3>Cholestasis</h3>
<p>A diameter of more than 8 mm is regarded as abnormal dilatation, and is a sign of <a href="/facts/Cholestasis/3T1pe8NE">cholestasis</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>Mirizzi's syndrome</h3>
<p><a href="/facts/Mirizzi%2527s_syndrome/fBSb9DhK">Mirizzi's syndrome</a> occurs when the common hepatic duct is blocked by <a href="/facts/Gallstone/9bIB9MYT">gallstones</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="additional-images">Additional images</h2>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/labs/l38/030302.htm">Anatomy photo:38:03-0302</a> at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: Contents of the Hepatoduodenal Ligament"</li>
<li><a href="http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=26032">Illustration</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121020150714/http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=26032">Archived</a> 2012-10-20 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Manohar, Rohan; Lagasse, Eric (2014-01-01), Lanza, Robert; Langer, Robert; Vacanti, Joseph (eds.), "Chapter 45 - Liver Stem Cells", Principles of Tissue Engineering (Fourth Edition), Boston: Academic Press, pp. 935–950, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-398358-9.00045-8, ISBN 978-0-12-398358-9, retrieved 2021-01-26 <a href="978-0-12-398358-9" target="_blank">978-0-12-398358-9</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Bergman, Simon; Geisinger, Kim R. (2008-01-01), Bibbo, Marluce; Wilbur, David (eds.), "CHAPTER 14 - Alimentary Tract (Esophagus, Stomach, Small Intestine, Colon, Rectum, Anus, Biliary Tract)", Comprehensive Cytopathology (Third Edition), Edinburgh: W.B. Saunders, pp. 373–408, ISBN 978-1-4160-4208-2, retrieved 2021-01-26 <a href="978-1-4160-4208-2" target="_blank">978-1-4160-4208-2</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 265. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0. <a href="978-0-7295-3752-0" target="_blank">978-0-7295-3752-0</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Gray's Anatomy, 39th ed, p. 1228 <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 265. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0. <a href="978-0-7295-3752-0" target="_blank">978-0-7295-3752-0</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 265. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0. <a href="978-0-7295-3752-0" target="_blank">978-0-7295-3752-0</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Bergman, Simon; Geisinger, Kim R. (2008-01-01), Bibbo, Marluce; Wilbur, David (eds.), "CHAPTER 14 - Alimentary Tract (Esophagus, Stomach, Small Intestine, Colon, Rectum, Anus, Biliary Tract)", Comprehensive Cytopathology (Third Edition), Edinburgh: W.B. Saunders, pp. 373–408, ISBN 978-1-4160-4208-2, retrieved 2021-01-26 <a href="978-1-4160-4208-2" target="_blank">978-1-4160-4208-2</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>Portmann, Bernard C.; Roberts, Eve A. (2012-01-01), Burt, Alastair D.; Portmann, Bernard C.; Ferrell, Linda D. (eds.), "3 - Developmental abnormalities and liver disease in childhood", MacSween's Pathology of the Liver (Sixth Edition), Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 101–156, ISBN 978-0-7020-3398-8, retrieved 2021-01-26 <a href="978-0-7020-3398-8" target="_blank">978-0-7020-3398-8</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:9"><p>Portmann, Bernard C.; Roberts, Eve A. (2012-01-01), Burt, Alastair D.; Portmann, Bernard C.; Ferrell, Linda D. (eds.), "3 - Developmental abnormalities and liver disease in childhood", MacSween's Pathology of the Liver (Sixth Edition), Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 101–156, ISBN 978-0-7020-3398-8, retrieved 2021-01-26 <a href="978-0-7020-3398-8" target="_blank">978-0-7020-3398-8</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:10"><p>Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 265. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0. <a href="978-0-7295-3752-0" target="_blank">978-0-7295-3752-0</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:11"><p>Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 265. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0. <a href="978-0-7295-3752-0" target="_blank">978-0-7295-3752-0</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:12"><p>Portmann, Bernard C.; Roberts, Eve A. (2012-01-01), Burt, Alastair D.; Portmann, Bernard C.; Ferrell, Linda D. (eds.), "3 - Developmental abnormalities and liver disease in childhood", MacSween's Pathology of the Liver (Sixth Edition), Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 101–156, ISBN 978-0-7020-3398-8, retrieved 2021-01-26 <a href="978-0-7020-3398-8" target="_blank">978-0-7020-3398-8</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:13"><p>Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 265. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0. <a href="978-0-7295-3752-0" target="_blank">978-0-7295-3752-0</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:14"><p>Portmann, Bernard C.; Roberts, Eve A. (2012-01-01), Burt, Alastair D.; Portmann, Bernard C.; Ferrell, Linda D. (eds.), "3 - Developmental abnormalities and liver disease in childhood", MacSween's Pathology of the Liver (Sixth Edition), Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 101–156, ISBN 978-0-7020-3398-8, retrieved 2021-01-26 <a href="978-0-7020-3398-8" target="_blank">978-0-7020-3398-8</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:15"><p>Hoeffel, Christine; Azizi, Louisa; Lewin, Maité; Laurent, Valérie; Aubé, Christophe; Arrivé, Lionel; Tubiana, Jean-Michel (2006). "Normal and Pathologic Features of the Postoperative Biliary Tract at 3D MR Cholangiopancreatography and MR Imaging". RadioGraphics. 26 (6): 1603–1620. doi:10.1148/rg.266055730. ISSN 0271-5333. PMID 17102039. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:16"><p>Katz, Seth S. (2017-01-01), Jarnagin, William R. (ed.), "Chapter 18 - Computed tomography of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas", Blumgart's Surgery of the Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas, 2-Volume Set (Sixth Edition), Philadelphia: Elsevier, pp. 316–357.e6, ISBN 978-0-323-34062-5, retrieved 2021-01-26 <a href="978-0-323-34062-5" target="_blank">978-0-323-34062-5</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Common hepatic duct open-in-new

Common hepatic duct