Sphincter of Oddi

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 30 Sep 2024

The sphincter of Oddi, also known as the sphincter of ampulla or choledochal sphincter, is a sphincter within the duodenal wall which regulates the passage of bile and pancreatic secretions into the small bowel.

Gross anatomy

Structure

The sphincter of Oddi comprises a complex of four smooth muscle sphincters:

  1. superior sphincter choledochus

  2. inferior sphincter choledochus (a.k.a. sphincter of Boyden)

  3. sphincter pancreaticus

  4. sphincter ampullae

These 4 sphincters surround and fix the duct of Wirsung, common bile duct and the ampulla of Vater to the duodenum 1,2

Function

When relaxed the sphincter of Oddi complex allows the passage of bile and pancreatic secretions into the small intestine and when contracted prevents the reflux of duodenal contents into the pancreaticobiliary ducts and helps facilitate the filling of the gallbladder 1

History and etymology

The sphincter of Oddi is named after Ruggero Oddi (1845-1906), who described the structure in 1887. He was a physiologist at the University of Perugia who later worked in Rome as both a surgeon and anatomist 3,6,7. However a more detailed anatomical description of the sphincter components were provided by an American anatomist Edward Allen Boyden (1886-1976) 4,5.

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