What Is the Biliary Tract?

The duct that carries bile from the liver to the duodenum is collectively called the biliary tract. It is divided into two parts: intrahepatic bile duct and extrahepatic bile duct.

Biliary tract

Right!

The duct that carries bile from the liver to the duodenum is collectively called the biliary tract. It is divided into two parts: intrahepatic bile duct and extrahepatic bile duct.

The intrahepatic bile duct starts from the capillary bile duct, gradually merges into a larger bile duct, and finally merges into the left and right hepatic ducts, and exits the liver from the hilum. The left and right hepatic ducts merge into the common duct after exiting the liver; the common hepatic duct and the gallbladder duct merge into the common bile duct, which is in the left posterior wall of the descending part of the duodenum, and then merges with the pancreatic duct to open the duodenal papilla. Around the opening of the common bile duct, there is a circular sphincter called the Oedipal sphincter, which can control the excretion of bile. When the common bile duct or common hepatic duct is blocked, bile is not excreted and obstructive jaundice can occur.