<prompt> False statement about common bile duct: PGI May 2011Lies in free margin of lesser omentumAnterior to first part of duodenumRight to hepatic arteryAnterior to portal vein  <response>: Ans: B Anterior... The common bile duct enters the second portion of the duodenunf through a muscular structure, the sphincter of Oddi- Snells Clinical Anatomy 8th250Supraduodenal portion of CBD lies in free margin of lesser omentum- BDC4th Vol 11275COMMON BILE DUCT Sabiston 18th1547-48The common bile duct is about 7 to 11 cm in length and 5 to 10 mm in diameter.The upper third supraduodenal portion passes downward in the free edge of the hepatoduodenal ligament, to the right of the hepatic artery and anterior to the portal vein.The middle third retroduodenal portion of the common bile duct curves behind the first portion of the duodenum and diverges laterally from the portal vein and the hepatic arteries.The lower third pancreatic portion curves behind the head of the pancreas in a groove, or traverses through it and enters the second part of the duodenum. There the pancreatic duct frequently joins it. The common bile duct runs obliquely downward within the wall of the duodenum for 1 to 2cm before opening on a papilla of mucous membrane ampulla of Vater, about 10 cm distal to the pylorus. The union of the common bile duct and the main pancreatic duct follows one of three configurations.Anatomical variationThe path of CBD is as follows: Bile canaliculi - Canals of Hering - interlobular bile ducts - intrahepatic bile ducts - left and right hepatic ducts merge to form - common hepatic duct exits liver and joins - cystic duct from gall bladder forming - common bile duct - joins with pancreatic duct forming ampulla of Vater - enters 2nd part of duodenum-The common hepatic duct is 1 to 4 cm in length and has a diameter of approximately 4 mm. It lies in front of the portal vein and to the right of the hepatic artery -Schwartz 8th1476Fig. Anatomy of the biliary system and its relationship to surrounding structures 