cystic duct

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Cystic duct
Digestive system diagram showing the cystic duct
1: Right lobe of liver 2: Left lobe of liver 3: Quadrate lobe of liver 4: Round ligament of liver 5: Falciform ligament 6: Caudate lobe of liver 7: Inferior vena cava 8: Common bile duct 9: Hepatic artery 10: Portal vein 11: Cystic duct 12: Hepatic duct 13: Gallbladder
Latin	ductus cysticus
Gray's	subject #250 1198
Artery	cystic artery

The cystic duct is the short duct that joins the gall bladder to the common bile duct. It usually lies next to the cystic artery. It is of variable length. It contains a 'spiral valve', which does not provide much resistance to the flow of bile.

Function

Bile can flow in both directions between the gallbladder and the common hepatic duct and the (common) bile duct.

In this way, bile is stored in the gallbladder in between meal times and released after a fatty meal.

Clinical significance

Gallstones can enter and obstruct the cystic duct, preventing the flow of bile. The increased pressure in the gallbladder leads to swelling and pain. This pain is sometimes referred to as a gallbladder "attack" because of its sudden onset.

During a cholecystectomy, the cystic duct is clipped two or three times and a cut is made between the clips, freeing the gallbladder to be taken out.

See also

• Accessory bile duct

Additional images

The gall-bladder and bile ducts laid open.

The portal vein and its tributaries.

External links

• cystic+duct at eMedicine Dictionary
• SUNY Figs 38:06-03 - "The gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts."
• SUNY Labs 38:14-0106 - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: The Gallbladder and the Bile System"
• liver at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (liverinferior, biliarysystem)

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