title: The bile ducts.
abstract: The common duct is a critical conduit. Hippocrates observed that to maintain health it is important to keep the yellow bile from the liver in balance. The present authors provide extensive descriptions of the structure, function, anomalies and disorders of the bile ducts, and make special note of the radiographic techniques available for use in diagnosis.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002759:Adenoma, Bile Duct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000002:abnormalities*; D001658:Biliary Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003560:Cysts / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging