Accessory Digestive Organs (Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder)
Start with the big picture
The liver occupies the right upper quadrant and has four anatomical lobes, while its functional divisions and Couinaud segments describe other aspects of its organization. Its porta hepatis carries major vessels and bile ducts, and its microscopic structure includes hepatic lobules, portal triads, and Kupffer cells. Bile passes through progressively larger ducts toward the common hepatic duct. The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile; its cystic duct joins the common hepatic duct to form the common bile duct. The pancreas extends from the curve of the duodenum toward the spleen and has head, uncinate, neck, body, and tail regions. Its main duct joins the common bile duct at the ampulla of Vater, with an accessory duct also described. Together, these structures illustrate how anatomy supports digestive pathways.
What you'll learn
- Distinguish the liver’s anatomical lobes, functional divisions, and segmental organization.
- Identify the porta hepatis contents and the liver’s venous outflow route.
- Trace bile flow from the liver through the gallbladder and bile ducts.
- Describe the gallbladder’s location, ductal connections, and Calot triangle.
- Locate the pancreas and identify its major parts and ducts.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
