Anatomy - Standard bilioenteric anastomosis

The bile ducts drain bile from the liver into the duodenum. This way, the bile with its bile acid aids in the digestion of lipids in the food. The biliary tree originates in the small ducts within the liver which confluence to segment ducts and finally the left and right hepatic duct which descend from the liver. Their union forms the common hepatic duct (CHD – ductus hepaticus communis). Along its course to the duodenum it is joined by the cystic duct (ductus cysticus) from the gallbladder (vesica biliaris). The union of the common hepatic duct and the cystic duct forms the common bile duct (CBD – ductus choledochus) which drains into the duodenum. The major duodenal papilla (papilla of Vater) is a sphincter muscle controlling the bile flow from the common bile duct into the duodenum.