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common bile duct

(KAH-mun bile dukt)
A tube that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder, through the pancreas, and into the small intestine. The common bile duct starts where the ducts from the liver and gallbladder join and ends at the small intestine. It is part of the biliary system.
Anatomy of the extrahepatic bile ducts; drawing shows the extrahepatic bile ducts, including the common hepatic duct (perihilar region) and the common bile duct (distal region). Also shown are the liver, right and left hepatic ducts, gallbladder, cystic duct, pancreas, ampulla of Vater, and small intestine.Enlarge this image in new window
Anatomy of the extrahepatic bile ducts. Extrahepatic bile ducts are small tubes that carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. They are made up of the common hepatic duct (perihilar region) and the common bile duct (distal region). Bile is made in the liver and flows through the common hepatic duct and the cystic duct to the gallbladder, where it is stored. When food is being digested, bile is released from the gallbladder and flows through the common bile duct, pancreas, and ampulla of Vater into the small intestine.
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