Sappitiehytjärjestelmä

Sappitiehytjärjestelmä refers to the network of ducts that transport bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. Bile is a fluid produced by the liver that aids in the digestion of fats. The system begins with small bile canaliculi within the liver, which merge into larger hepatic ducts. The right and left hepatic ducts collect bile from the respective lobes of the liver.

These two ducts join to form the common hepatic duct. The gallbladder, a small organ situated beneath the liver, stores and concentrates bile. It connects to the common hepatic duct via the cystic duct. When the common hepatic duct and the cystic duct merge, they form the common bile duct. This common bile duct then descends through the pancreas and empties into the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, at a point called the ampulla of Vater.

The flow of bile is regulated by a muscular valve known as the sphincter of Oddi, which controls its release into the duodenum. This release is typically stimulated by the presence of fats in the small intestine, prompting the gallbladder to contract and expel bile. The integrity and proper functioning of the sappitiehytjärjestelmä are crucial for effective fat digestion and absorption, as well as for the elimination of certain waste products from the body. Diseases affecting these ducts can lead to digestive issues and jaundice.