Right hepatic duct

Right Hepatic Duct

The Right Hepatic Duct is a duct in the human body that forms a part of the biliary system. It is responsible for the transportation of bile from the liver to the gallbladder and eventually to the small intestine for the digestion of fats.

Anatomy

The Right Hepatic Duct is one of the two main ducts of the liver, the other being the Left Hepatic Duct. These two ducts merge to form the Common Hepatic Duct, which then joins with the Cystic Duct from the gallbladder to form the Common Bile Duct.

The Right Hepatic Duct drains bile from the right functional lobe of the liver, which includes the caudate lobe and the right lobe of the liver. The duct itself is usually 2 to 3 cm long.

Function

The primary function of the Right Hepatic Duct, like other components of the biliary system, is to transport bile produced by the liver cells to the gallbladder for storage and concentration. When required, particularly during the digestion of fats, the bile is released into the small intestine.

Clinical Significance

Diseases and conditions that can affect the Right Hepatic Duct include biliary atresia, choledocholithiasis (gallstones in the bile duct), cholangitis (inflammation of the bile duct), and cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). These conditions can lead to serious complications, including jaundice, cirrhosis, and liver failure.

See Also

• Biliary system
• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Common Bile Duct