GALLBLADDER AND BILIARY TREE

The gallbladder is a 7-10 cm long brown-green sac found under

the inferior surface of the right lobe of the liver.

It is described in three parts:

Fundus

The head of the gallbladder is called the fundus and

protrudes from the inferior border of the right lobe of the
liver.

Body

The body of the gallbladder connects the fundus to the

cervix.

Cervix

The gallbladder constricts at the cervix to form the

cystic duct.

FUNCTION

Stores and concentrates bile, which is produced by the liver and

consists of salts such as cholesterol and pigments including the
hemoglobin of defunct red blood cells. The gallbladder releases bile
into the duodenum during digestion where it functions to emulsify
fats and stimulate peristalsis, and is a channel for the excretion of
toxic substances.

The biliary tree connects the liver, gallbladder and pancreas to the
duodenum.

It is described in three parts:

Cystic duct

A continuation of the cervix of the gallbladder, it runs for

3-4 cm before uniting with the common hepatic duct to
form the bile duct.

Common hepatic duct

 Formed as the two hepatic ducts leave the liver, the
common hepatic duct unites with the cystic duct to form
the bile duct.

Bile duct

Formed below the liver by the union of the cystic and

common hepatic ducts. It descends in the lesser
omentum to the pancreas where it unites with the main
pancreatic duct, forming the hepatopancreatic ampulla.

Hepatopancreatic ampulla

Formed by the union of the main pancreatic and bile

ducts, this short chamber empties into the duodenum at
the major duodenal papilla.