Infundibulum of the Gallbladder Rendered from a Posterior Orientation

Description

Posteriorly oriented anatomy centers on the gallbladder infundibulum (Hartmann pouch region), the funnel-shaped segment that narrows into the neck and continues as the cystic duct. Superior and slightly posterior, the gallbladder abuts the visceral surface of the liver at the gallbladder fossa, while the infundibulum lies inferior to the hepatic hilum and lateral to the extrahepatic biliary confluence. From this angle, the neck region typically sits medial to the body of the gallbladder, with the expected course of the cholecystic duct trending posteromedially toward the common hepatic duct. Surgical relevance lives in the geometry. A prominent infundibulum can drape over and obscure Calot triangle structures, and inflammation or scarring around the neck frequently distorts the relationship of the cystic duct to the common hepatic duct, setting up the classic mechanism for bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Impacted gallstones at the infundibulum may compress the common hepatic duct (Mirizzi syndrome), producing obstructive jaundice that can be mistaken for primary choledocholithiasis unless the infundibular anatomy is clearly understood. Misleading landmarks are common here. Ideal applications include teaching biliary anatomy in gross anatomy and hepatobiliary surgery modules, illustrating the operative view when discussing the critical view of safety, and supporting radiology-pathology correlation in cases where cholecystitis or a packed Hartmann pouch alters expected biliary alignment on ultrasound, CT, or MRCP. Publishers will also find it useful for atlases covering extrahepatic biliary variants and complication avoidance in cholecystectomy. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.