The Pancreobiliary System:
Anatomy and Functions:
Pancreaticobiliary disorders are diseases of the pancreas, liver, and the biliary tract, which consists of the gall bladder and bile ducts. These disorders can be highly complex in nature, making management of these diseases difficult at times.
The pancreas and bile duct (biliary) systems together form a very important part of the digestive system. The pancreas and liver produce juices (pancreatic juice and bile) aid in the process of digestion. The pancreas is about the same size and shape as a small banana, and lies in the upper abdomen, towards the back, near the spine. The pancreas contains drainage tubes (ducts) which form the pancreatic ductal system. The pancreatic juices are made in the pancreas, and passed by secretion into the ducts for transport into the second part of the upper small intestine. The exit hole into the duodenum is called the papilla of Vater.
The biliary juices are known as bile and are made in the tissues of the liver and then pass into the biliary ductal system. These ducts join together to form one stream in the main bile duct, which exits into the duodenum. The gallbladder is a storage chamber for bile, joined to the side of the bile duct by another small tube known as the cystic duct.
Common disorders of the Pancreobiliary system include:
- Bile duct disease
- Gallstones
- Gallbladder disease
- Gallbladder and bile duct cancer
- Hyperinsulinemia
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pancreatitis
- Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction
Related Websites & Resources:
- Functions of the Pancreas, the Liver, and the Gallbladder & Bile ducts
- See Dr. Mainor Antillon’s profile
- The American College of Gastroenterology
- Digestive Health Online
- WebMD.Com
- More patient resources
| University of Missouri Health Care | This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. |
