Common hepatic duct

Structure

The common hepatic duct is the first part of the biliary tract. It is formed by the union of the right hepatic duct (which drains bile from the right functional lobe of the liver) and the left hepatic duct (which drains bile from the left functional lobe of the liver).

The duct is about 3 cm long. The common hepatic duct is about 6 mm in diameter in adults, with some variation.

Termination

The common hepatic duct typically unites with the cystic duct some 1–2 cm superior to the duodenum and anterior to the right hepatic artery, with the cystic duct approaching the common hepatic duct from the right.

Relations

The right branch of the hepatic artery proper usually passes posterior to the duct, but may rarely pass anterior to it instead.

Histology

The inner surface is covered in a simple columnar epithelium.

Variation

Accessory hepatic ducts

Around 1.7% of people have additional accessory hepatic ducts that opens into the common hepatic duct. Accessory hepatic ducts may also instead open into the cystic duct or gallbladder.

Termination

Occasionally, the cystic duct may first run along the right side of the common bile duct for some distance before joining it, or may pass posteriorly around to the common hepatic duct to unite with it from the left side.

Rarely, the common hepatic duct and gallbladder join directly (with the cystic duct being absent), leading to illness.