Hepatic duct

Hepatic Diverticulum

The Hepatic Diverticulum is an embryological structure that plays a crucial role in the development of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary tract. It is a ventral outgrowth of the foregut, which is the anterior part of the alimentary canal in embryos.

Formation

The hepatic diverticulum forms during the fourth week of embryonic development. It arises as an outgrowth from the ventral wall of the foregut, which later gives rise to the stomach and the duodenum. The diverticulum then grows into the surrounding mesenchyme, a type of connective tissue, and begins to differentiate into the liver, gallbladder, and biliary tract.

Structure

The hepatic diverticulum consists of two parts: the larger cranial part, which forms the liver and the smaller caudal part, which forms the gallbladder and the cystic duct. The connection between the hepatic diverticulum and the foregut narrows to form the common bile duct.

Function

The hepatic diverticulum is essential for the development of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary tract. It provides the primitive cells that differentiate into the various cell types found in these organs, including hepatocytes, the main functional cells of the liver, and cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells of the bile ducts.

Clinical Significance

Abnormalities in the formation of the hepatic diverticulum can lead to a variety of congenital disorders. These include biliary atresia, a condition in which the bile ducts are blocked or absent, and polycystic liver disease, a condition characterized by the presence of numerous cysts in the liver.

See Also

• Embryology
• Liver development
• Gallbladder development
• Biliary tract development