Structure/Morphology
The left hepatic duct is formed by the merging of segmental intrahepatic ducts and carries bile from the left liver, and usually, the caudate lobe (Standring, 2016).
Structurally, the left hepatic duct has a mucosal layer and a fibrous 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 fibrous layer deep to this isn’t well formed in the left hepatic duct and consists of mostly connective tissue and elastin, with few smooth muscle fibers (Gulwani, 2012).
Key Features/Anatomical Relations
The left hepatic duct becomes extrahepatic and runs along the inferior edge of liver segment IV for several centimeters. It’s longer and more horizontally oriented than the right hepatic duct. It ends in the porta hepatis where it merges with the right hepatic duct to form the common hepatic duct (Standring, 2016).
Function
The left hepatic duct transmits bile from the left liver to the common hepatic duct.
References
Gulwani, H. (2012) Histology-extrahepatic bile ducts. Gallbladder & extrahepatic bile ducts. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/gallbladdernormalhistologybileduct.html opens 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.
