Bilejere

Bilejere, or biliary ducts, refers to the network of channels that transport bile from the liver to the small intestine. These ducts form the biliary tract, which includes intrahepatic ducts within the liver and extrahepatic ducts outside it. Bile produced by hepatocytes drains into canaliculi and flows through progressively larger ducts until it reaches the gastrointestinal tract. The term is commonly used in some languages to describe this system, though in English the wider term “biliary tract” or “biliary ducts” is standard.

Anatomy and flow of bilejere: Intrahepatic bile ducts collect bile from liver lobules. The left and right hepatic ducts merge to form the common hepatic duct. The cystic duct from the gallbladder joins to create the common bile duct (ductus choledochus). The common bile duct travels behind the first part of the duodenum and usually joins the pancreatic duct at the hepatopancreatic ampulla (ampulla of Vater), where bile is released into the duodenum through the sphincter of Oddi. The gallbladder serves as a storage and concentration site for bile but is not part of the primary transport pathway.

Function and composition: Bile contains bile acids (bile salts), cholesterol, phospholipids, bilirubin, and electrolytes. Its main roles are emulsification and digestion of fats and the excretion of bilirubin and other waste products. Proper flow of bilejere is essential for fat digestion and for eliminating certain substances from the body.

Clinical relevance: Obstruction or dysfunction of the biliary ducts can cause cholestasis, jaundice, and pain. Common issues include gallstones blocking the common bile duct, bile duct strictures, and cholangiocarcinoma. Diagnostic tools include ultrasound and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP); therapeutic approaches include endoscopic procedures (ERCP) with stone extraction or stenting, and surgery such as cholecystectomy.