THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE COMMON BILE DUCT

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Anatomic evidence1 indicates that circular muscle fibers surround the duct of Wirsung and the common bile duct individually just before they join the ampulla and may serve as a sphincter for each. However, the fibers are frequently so knit together that it would appear that one could not contract without the other and so occluded both ducts. Burget and Brocklehurst,2 observing the guinea-pig, report that there is a definite anatomic and physiologic sphincter at the junction of the common bile duct with the ampulla and that, when the ampulla contracts, the sphincter contracts to prevent regurgitation of the bile from the ampulla into the common duct. There is no physiologic evidence indicating the existence of such a sphincter in the dog and in man. However, we have recently made an observation in man which, according to one interpretation, indicates that such a sphincter may exist. A series of

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: