Cystic duct

Cystic duct
	1: Right lobe of liver; 2: Left lobe of liver; 3: Quadrate lobe of liver; 4: Round ligament of liver; 5: Falciform ligament; 6: Caudate lobe of liver; 7: Inferior vena cava; 8: Common bile duct; 9: Hepatic artery; 10: Portal vein; 11: Cystic duct; 12: Hepatic duct; 13: Gallbladder
Details
Artery	cystic artery
Identifiers
Latin	ductus cysticus
MeSH	D003549
TA	A05.8.02.011
FMA	14539
	Anatomical terminology

The cystic duct is the short duct that joins the gallbladder to the common hepatic duct. It usually lies next to the cystic artery. It is of variable length. It contains 'spiral valves of Heister', which do not provide much resistance to the flow of bile.

1. Bile ducts: 2. Intrahepatic bile ducts, 3. Left and right hepatic ducts, 4. Common hepatic duct, 5. Cystic duct, 6. Common bile duct, 7. Ampulla of Vater, 8. Major duodenal papilla
9. Gallbladder, 10–11. Right and left lobes of liver. 12. Spleen.
13. Esophagus. 14. Stomach. 15. Pancreas: 16. Accessory pancreatic duct, 17. Pancreatic duct.
18. Small intestine: 19. Duodenum, 20. Jejunum
21–22. Right and left kidneys.
The front border of the liver has been lifted up (brown arrow).[1]

Function

Bile can flow in both directions between the gallbladder and the common bile duct and the hepatic duct.

In this way, bile is stored in the gallbladder in between meal times. The hormone cholecystokinin, when stimulated by a fatty meal, promotes bile secretion by increased production of hepatic bile, contraction of the gall bladder, and relaxation of the Sphincter of Oddi.

Clinical significance

Gallstones can enter and obstruct the cystic duct, preventing the flow of bile. The increased pressure in the gallbladder leads to swelling and pain. This pain, known as biliary colic, is sometimes referred to as a gallbladder "attack" because of its sudden onset.

During a cholecystectomy, the cystic duct is clipped two or three times and a cut is made between the clips, freeing the gallbladder to be taken out.

Additional images

Digestive system diagram showing the cystic duct
The gall-bladder and bile ducts laid open.
The portal vein and its tributaries.
Cystic duct.Visceral surface of liver.

References

Standring S, Borley NR, eds. (2008). Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Brown JL, Moore LA (40th ed.). London: Churchill Livingstone. pp. 1163, 1177, 1185–6. ISBN 978-0-8089-2371-8.

External links

Anatomy figure: 38:06-03 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts."
Anatomy photo:38:14-0106 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: The Gallbladder and the Bile System"
liver at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (liverinferior, biliarysystem)

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[1] Standring S, Borley NR, eds. (2008). Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Brown JL, Moore LA (40th ed.). London: Churchill Livingstone. pp. 1163, 1177, 1185–6. ISBN 978-0-8089-2371-8.