KnowraBiliary tractBiliary tractThe biliary tract is the network of ducts that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine.BriefConnectLiver: The largest internal organ, which performs metabolic functions and produces bile. It produces bile that enters the biliary ducts.Bile: A digestive fluid made by the liver that helps absorb dietary fats and excrete waste products. Its flow through the tract is the system’s central function.Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: An endoscopic procedure that uses contrast imaging to examine and treat the bile and pancreatic ducts. It can locate and relieve blockages in the tract.Pancreatic duct: A duct that carries digestive secretions from the pancreas to the duodenum. It shares an intestinal outlet with the common bile duct but carries pancreatic juice.Gallbladder: A small organ beneath the liver that stores and concentrates bile. It stores bile and releases it into the cystic duct.Cystic duct: The duct connecting the gallbladder to the common hepatic duct. It provides the route for bile into and out of the gallbladder.Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography: A magnetic resonance imaging technique that produces detailed images of the bile and pancreatic ducts. It depicts duct anatomy without endoscopic instrumentation.Portal vein: A vein that carries blood from the digestive organs and spleen to the liver. It runs through the liver region but transports blood, not bile.Intrahepatic bile ducts: Ducts within the liver that collect bile from liver cells and carry it toward the hepatic ducts. They gather bile inside the liver before it leaves the organ.Hepatopancreatic ampulla: A chamber where the common bile duct and main pancreatic duct usually meet before opening into the duodenum. It is the shared outlet for bile and pancreatic juice.Show all 23Linked from 2 pagesGastrointestinal tractCompared with: It delivers digestive fluid to the gut but is not part of the food-carrying tube.Show all 2