Structure/Morphology
The common hepatic duct is formed by the union of the left and right hepatic ducts, which carries bile from the left and right liver.
Structurally, the common hepatic duct has a mucosal layer and a muscular layer (Standring, 2016). The mucosal layer consists of a single cell epithelium on the luminal surface, small longitudinal folds, mucous glands, and loose connective tissue.
The muscular layer deep to this isn’t well formed in the hepatic duct and consists of mostly connective tissue and elastin, with few smooth muscle fibers (Gulwani, 2012).
Key Features/Anatomical Relations
The common hepatic duct runs a short distance of roughly 3 cm in the hepatoduodenal ligament, starting near the external portion of the porta hepatis.
It runs to the right of the hepatic artery and anterior to the portal vein. Together, the duct, artery, and vein form the portal triad.
At its distal end, the cystic duct approaches on the left side and fuses with the common hepatic duct, marking the end of the common hepatic duct and the origin of the common bile duct (Standring, 2016).
Function
The common hepatic duct transmits bile from the liver to either the gallbladder or the duodenum.
References
Gulwani, H. (2012) Histology-extrahepatic bile ducts. Gallbladder & extrahepatic bile ducts.https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/gallbladdernormalhistologybileduct.htmlopens in new tab/window: PathologyOutlines.com (Accessed: August 7th 2020).
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41 edn.: Elsevier Limited.
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Common Hepatic Duct
Although the confluence of the hepatic ducts is situated outside of the parenchyma of the liver, for convenience an intrahepatic bile duct is defined as any bile duct proximal to the confluence of the right and left hepatic ducts.
