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AnatomyAbdomenLiverCommon hepatic duct
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AnatomyAbdomenLiverCommon hepatic duct

Common hepatic duct

Author: Danijel Tosovic, PhD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: March 04, 2024
Reading time: 1 minute

Recommended video: Liver in situ [18:21]
Liver in situ seen from an anterior view of the abdomen with the liver retracted.
Common hepatic duct
Ductus hepaticus communis
1/2
Synonyms: none

The common hepatic duct is a component of the biliary tract, responsible for transporting bile produced by the liver to the duodenum. It is formed by the unison of the left and right hepatic ducts, which drain bile from the left and right functional lobes of the liver. It descends for about 3cm before being joined by the cystic duct on its right side, forming the bile duct within the free edge of the lesser omentum. 

The common hepatic duct is most often found running anterior to the right branch of the hepatic artery proper, though variations in this arrangement are common. The lumen of the duct is less than 5cm and is lined by columnar epithelial cells. 

Terminology English: Common hepatic duct
Latin: Ductus hepaticus communis
Definition A duct formed by the unison of the right and left hepatic ducts, which then unites with the cystic duct to form the bile duct.
Function Transport bile produced by the liver to the duodenum.

Learn more about the liver, gallbladder and biliary system with these study units:

Overview of the liver Explore study unit
Gallbladder Explore study unit

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.
  • Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2014). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41st ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

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