Anatomy of the gallbladder and bile ducts

The biliary system or biliary tract is an elaborate system of coalescing channels which transports bile from the liver to the second part of the duodenum. The biliary system is divided for descriptive purposes into intrahepatic and extrahepatic parts. This article is confined to a description of the clinical and surgical anatomy of the extrahepatic biliary tract, comprising the right and left hepatic ducts, common hepatic duct, gallbladder and cystic duct and the common bile duct. Diseases of the extrahepatic biliary tract account for a considerable volume of abdominal surgical practice. These include metabolic, inflammatory, neoplastic, and congenital conditions. A detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the gallbladder and bile ducts and an awareness of the anatomical variations to which these structures are subject are essential to the conduct of safe and effective surgery involving the biliary tract, besides being of crucial importance to the accurate interpretation of radiological and ultrasound images of the extrahepatic biliary tract.