Hepatic duct

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Liver in situ seen from an anterior view of the abdomen with the liver retracted.

A hepatic duct is a tube which carries bile synthesized and secreted by the liver. Bile produced by hepatocytes is initially secreted into bile canaliculi which drain into small interlobular biliary ducts, which in turn drain into larger collecting ducts. These collecting ducts then merge to form the two main bile ducts of the liver; the left and right hepatic ducts, which drain bile from the left and right functional lobes of the liver, respectively.

The left hepatic duct is typically longer and more horizontally orientated in comparison to the shorter and more vertical right hepatic duct. The left and right hepatic ducts join to form the common hepatic duct shortly after leaving the porta hepatis. Approximately 2-3 cm after the formation of the common hepatic duct, the cystic duct joins the common hepatic duct in forming the (common) bile duct, conveying the bile to the duodenum.