A ductal system consisting of the gallbladder and the bile ducts connecting the liver to the intestine.
The organs in which bile is formed, concentrated, stored, and transported to the small intestine. The biliary system removes waste products from the liver and carries bile to the intestine. The biliary system is composed of the bile ducts, gallbladder, bile, and various other structures. The gallbladder, a small pouch that lies under the liver, stores and concentrates bile, which flows through the bile ducts from the liver into and out of the gallbladder. A hormone released by the small intestine causes the gallbladder to contract and release bile into the small intestine, where it helps neutralize stomach acid and make fats soluble to permit their digestion.
The gallbladder and the intricate network of conduits that facilitate the transportation of bile from the liver to the intestine.
The intricate system of organs and ducts involved in the production, concentration, and transportation of bile from the liver to the duodenum, the initial segment of the small intestine, plays a vital role. Bile is synthesized by hepatic cells and collected through a network of bile ducts, which facilitate its exit from the liver via the hepatic duct. From the hepatic duct, the cystic duct branches out and leads to the gallbladder, where bile undergoes concentration and storage. After this juncture, the hepatic duct transforms into the common bile duct, which terminates at a regulated opening known as the ampulla of Vater, connecting to the duodenum. The presence of dietary fat in the duodenum triggers the release of a hormone that prompts the opening of the ampulla of Vater. This, in turn, stimulates contraction of the gallbladder, causing the release of stored bile into the duodenum.
The primary disorders that impact the biliary system include gallstones, congenital biliary atresia, and bile duct obstruction.