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Cystic duct and Heister's "valves"
1Children's Liver and GI Unit, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom.
Clinical Anatomy (New York, N.Y.)
|February 8, 2005
Summary
The cystic duct
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The anatomy and physiology of the cystic duct are not well understood.
- The function of the spiral mucosal folds (valves of Heister) remains obscure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the gross and microscopic anatomy of the cystic duct.
- To investigate the function of the cystic duct and its spiral folds.
Main Methods:
- Review of gross and microscopic anatomy.
- Laboratory investigations into the function of the cystic duct and its spiral folds.
Main Results:
- The cystic duct and its spiral folds contain muscle fibers responsive to various stimuli.
- No evidence of a discrete muscular sphincter in the cystic duct was found.
- The cystic duct may facilitate gallbladder emptying through coordinated muscular activity.
- Spiral folds likely preserve the patency of the cystic duct rather than regulate bile flow.
Conclusions:
- The cystic duct is more than a passive conduit and may play a role in gallbladder emptying.
- The spiral folds of Heister primarily serve to maintain the patency of the cystic duct.