Hepatopancreatic ampulla
Ampulla hepatopancreatica
- Latin synonym: Ampulla biliaropancreatica
- Synonym: Biliaropancreatic ampulla; hepatopancreatic duct
- Eponym: Ampulla of Vater
- Related terms: Hepatopancreatic ampulla; Biliaropancreatic ampulla
Definition
The hepatopancreatic ampulla (ampulla of Vater) is a small spherical reservoir formed by the union of the pancreatic duct and the common bile duct and marking the entry point of bile into the second portion of the duodenum at the major duodenal papilla.
The hepatopancreatic ampulla (ampulla of Vater) is composed by four smooth muscle sphincters:
Sphincter of ampulla (hepatopancreatic sphincter; sphincter of Oddi).
Sphincter of the pancreatic duct (of Boyden)
The two muscles composing the sphincter of the bile duct (sphincter of choledocus)
The hepatopancreatic ampulla (with his sphincters) controls the introduction of bile and pancreatic secretions into the duodenum, as well as preventing the entry of duodenal contents into the ampulla.
The ampulla of Vater is an important landmark, halfway along the second part of the duodenum, that marks the anatomical transition from foregut to midgut (and hence the point where the celiac trunk stops supplying the gut and the superior mesenteric artery takes over).
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