Biliary System: Anatomy, Function, and Common Disorders

Biliary pertains to the bile ducts, gallbladder, and bile.

Anatomy & Physiology

• Liver produces bile → hepatic ducts → common hepatic duct.
• Cystic duct ↔ gallbladder (storage/concentration).
• Common bile duct → duodenum (major papilla, shared with pancreatic duct).
• Bile: bile salts (emulsify fats), bilirubin (excretion), cholesterol.

Common Disorders

• Cholelithiasis – gallstones (cholesterol or pigment).
• Choledocholithiasis – stones in CBD.
• Cholangitis – biliary infection (Charcot's triad: pain, fever, jaundice).
• Biliary atresia – neonatal obliteration of extrahepatic ducts.
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) – inflammatory stricturing.
• Gallbladder cancer – rare, associated with stones/porcelain GB.

Diagnosis: ultrasound (first‑line), MRCP, ERCP, HIDA scan.