Cystic duct

The cystic duct connects the neck of the gallbladder to the common hepatic duct (CHD), draining bile to and from the biliary tree.

Gross anatomy

The confluence of the cystic duct and the common hepatic duct forms the common bile duct. The cystic duct is approximately 2-3 cm long and 2-3 mm in diameter. 

Blood supply

The cystic artery (branch of right hepatic artery) can often travel behind the cystic duct to supply the gallbladder. 

Variant anatomy

There are three main variations of the cystic duct ³:

• low cystic duct insertion: into the distal-third of the CHD (~10%)
• medial cystic duct insertion: into the left, not the right, side of the CHD (~15%)
• parallel cystic duct course: courses parallel to the CHD for at least 2 cm (~10%)

Related pathology

Conditions that may affect the cystic duct include:

• calculus disease
• cystic duct obstruction, which can result in cholecystitis
• Mirizzi syndrome
• cystic duct-duodenal fistula
• malignancy (e.g. cholangiocarcinoma)
• primary sclerosing cholangitis