Ampulla of Vater
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Weerakkody Y, Bell D, Morgan M, et al. Ampulla of Vater. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 17 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-17605
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rID:
17605
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.
View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures
Revisions:
8 times, by
6 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Vater's ampulla
- Major duodenal papilla
- Greater duodenal papilla
- Hepatopancreatic ampulla
- Biliaropancreatic ampulla
The ampulla of Vater is a conical structure at the confluence of the common bile duct (CBD) and the main pancreatic duct that protrudes through a natural dehiscence of the duodenal wall at the major duodenal papilla into the medial aspect of the descending duodenum. The entire structure is encased by smooth muscle fibers that compose the sphincter of Oddi 2.
On this page:
Variant anatomy
The confluence of the common bile and main pancreatic ducts may occur in three ways 1:
- a common duct (the ampulla of Vater) ~60%: "standard anatomy"
- a “double-barreled” opening at the apex of the papilla ~38%
- separate duodenal openings for the two canals ~2%
History and etymology
Named after Abraham Vater (1684-1751), a German professor of anatomy 5.
The eponymous terms for both the ampulla and the papilla can be replaced with anatomical terms such as hepatopancreatic or biliopancreatic ampulla and major or greater duodenal papilla, respectively 6.
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Related pathology
References
- 1. Kim JH, Kim MJ, Chung JJ et-al. Differential diagnosis of periampullary carcinomas at MR imaging. Radiographics. 22 (6): 1335-52. doi:10.1148/rg.226025060 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Pham DT, Hura SA, Willmann JK et-al. Evaluation of periampullary pathology with CT volumetric oblique coronal reformations. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2009;193 (3): W202-8. doi:10.2214/AJR.08.2069 - Pubmed citation
- 3. Aspestrand F, Erichsen A, Kolbenstvedt A et-al. Radiological appearance of the ampulla of Vater. Radiologe. 1988;28 (11): 533-5. - Pubmed citation
- 4. Guo ZJ, Chen YF, Zhang YH et-al. CT virtual endoscopy of the ampulla of Vater: preliminary report. Abdom Imaging. 2011;36 (5): 514-9. doi:10.1007/s00261-010-9644-2 - Pubmed citation
- 5. Kanne JP, Rohrmann CA, Lichtenstein JE. Eponyms in radiology of the digestive tract: historical perspectives and imaging appearances. Part 2. Liver, biliary system, pancreas, peritoneum, and systemic disease. Radiographics. 2006;26 (2): 465-80. doi:10.1148/rg.262055130 - Pubmed citation
- 6. Mirilas P, Colborn GL, Skandalakis LJ et-al. Benign anatomical mistakes: "ampulla of Vater" and "papilla of Vater". Am Surg. 2005;71 (3): 269-74. Pubmed citation
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Pancreas
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- Duodenitis
- Periampullary tumours
- Pancreas transplant
- Meniscus sign (cholangiography)
- Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm
- Pancreatic trauma injury grading
- Ampullary adenocarcinoma
- Coeliac artery
- Sphincter of Oddi
- Ampulla (disambiguation)
- Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel
- Billroth II gastrojejunostomy
- Haemosuccus pancreaticus
- Pseudocalculus sign (common bile duct)
- Pacinian corpuscle
- Pancreas divisum
- Periampullary diverticulum
- Pancreatic ducts
Cases:
- Pancreas divisum
- Ampulla of Vater stone
- Pancreas divisum with Santorinicele
- Duodenal papillitis
- Ampullary tumour
- Double duct sign
- Duodenal papillitis
- Ampullary carcinoma
- Ampulla of Vater stone and pancreas divisum
- Ampulla of Vater
- Secondary tumour of the ampulla of Vater
- Ampullary tumour
- Ampullary tumour
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