US Medical Term · anatomy
Bile Duct
Conducto biliar
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Bile Duct |
| Spanish (Español) | Conducto biliar |
| Chinese (中文) | 膽管 |
| Korean (한국어) | 담관 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Ống mật |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Bile duct |
| Portuguese (Português) | Ducto biliar |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ท่อน้ำดี |
| Japanese (日本語) | 胆管 |
What it means
The bile duct is a small tube that carries bile — a digestive fluid that helps break down fats — from the liver and gallbladder into the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum. The common bile duct is formed when the duct from the gallbladder joins the duct from the liver. Bile travels down this duct after a meal and enters the small intestine through a small opening called the ampulla of Vater. When a gallstone, tumor, or other blockage obstructs the bile duct, bile cannot drain properly and backs up into the liver, causing jaundice — a yellowing of the skin and eyes. Doctors can examine the bile duct with a procedure called ERCP and place a stent to keep it open.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My skin turned yellow and the doctor said a gallstone is blocking my bile duct.
Me puse amarillo y el médico dijo que un cálculo biliar está bloqueando el conducto biliar.
They put a small stent in my bile duct to keep it open so the bile can drain properly.
Me colocaron un pequeño stent en el conducto biliar para mantenerlo abierto y que la bilis pueda drenar correctamente.
The ERCP procedure is used to look at my bile duct and remove the blockage.
El procedimiento ERCP se usa para examinar el conducto biliar y eliminar la obstrucción.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026