Common bile duct

Overview
Bile, which is synthesized in the liver, is carried to the right and left hepatic ducts, which converge to form the common hepatic duct. There, it can either enter the superior end of the common bile duct and either empties into the third (and retroperitoneal) portion of the duodenum, or enter the cystic duct to be stored in the gallbladder.

The inferior end of the common bile duct merges with the large pancreatic duct (duct of Wirsung) from the pancreas, into the ampulla of Vater. There, the two ducts are surrounded by the muscular hepatopancreatic sphincter (sphincter of Oddi) which if contracted, prevents bile from entering the small intestine.