Biliary Ducts of the Liver and Gallbladder, Gross Anatomy

Description

Anterior hepatic parenchyma is rendered with the intrahepatic biliary tree highlighted, converging from peripheral segmental ducts into the right and left hepatic ducts near the porta hepatis. Medial to the gallbladder fossa, the right and left hepatic ducts join as the common hepatic duct, which descends inferiorly toward the first part of the duodenum. The cystic duct courses from the neck of the gallbladder to meet the common hepatic duct at an acute angle, forming the common bile duct; the fundus of the gallbladder sits inferior to the right lobe along the inferior surface of the liver. Surgical anatomy of the extrahepatic ducts turns on these junctions. The cystic duct, common hepatic duct, and inferior liver edge define Calot’s triangle, the field in which the cystic artery and aberrant right hepatic ducts may be encountered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and where misidentification leads to common bile duct injury. This view also supports teaching of biliary obstruction patterns, from gallstone impaction at the cystic duct or ampulla to malignant strictures of the common hepatic duct (Klatskin tumor) at the hilar confluence. Use this artwork in gross anatomy and hepatobiliary modules to anchor duct nomenclature and directional flow from canaliculi to common bile duct, and in surgical education materials to illustrate safe dissection planes and the critical view of safety concept at the cystic duct junction. It also suits gastroenterology and radiology publications correlating ERCP or MRCP ductal anatomy with cholangitis, choledocholithiasis, and post-cholecystectomy bile leak. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.