Bile Duct Ultrasound Anatomy

7 min read

Bile duct ultrasound anatomy is presented here as a labeled cross-sectional atlas. Every view pairs a color-coded anatomy diagram with the matching real ultrasound image, so you can learn the expected shape and position of the bile duct and then recognise it on a real scan.

In the atlas legend the bile duct belongs to the gallbladder group and is shown in a consistent colour wherever it appears. The small body marker on each card shows where the transducer sits for that view, which makes it easier to reproduce the image at the bedside.

Bile duct appears in 20 labeled views in this atlas. Each card below shows the anatomy diagram, the real ultrasound image and the probe position for that scan. Coloured dots list every structure labeled in the view, with bile duct highlighted.

20Scan views

Bile duct across the atlas

Superior mesenteric artery

Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Superior mesenteric artery

1Aorta4Hepatic artery7Superior mesenteric artery10Vena cava18Splenic vein20Right lobe of liver21Left lobe of liver22Quadrate lobe36Bile duct43Tail of pancreas61Left kidney90Spinal column96Diaphragm

Superior mesenteric artery and splenic vein

Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Superior mesenteric artery and splenic vein

1Aorta7Superior mesenteric artery8Right renal artery9Left renal artery10Vena cava15Left renal vein18Splenic vein20Right lobe of liver21Left lobe of liver36Bile duct42Body of pancreas43Tail of pancreas61Left kidney90Spinal column

Left renal vein and right renal artery

Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Left renal vein and right renal artery

1Aorta7Superior mesenteric artery8Right renal artery10Vena cava15Left renal vein18Splenic vein20Right lobe of liver21Left lobe of liver36Bile duct42Body of pancreas43Tail of pancreas76Duodenum90Spinal column

Infrarenal aorta and vena cava

Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Infrarenal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Infrarenal aorta and vena cava

1Aorta7Superior mesenteric artery8Right renal artery10Vena cava15Left renal vein18Splenic vein21Left lobe of liver36Bile duct41Head of pancreas43Tail of pancreas76Duodenum90Spinal column94Artifact

Infrarenal aorta and vena cava

Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Infrarenal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

1Aorta7Superior mesenteric artery10Vena cava19Superior mesenteric vein21Left lobe of liver36Bile duct41Head of pancreas42Body of pancreas70Stomach90Spinal column94Artifact

Portal vein, vena cava, right renal artery

Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Portal vein, vena cava, right renal artery

4Hepatic artery8Right renal artery10Vena cava12Middle hepatic vein17Portal vein20Right lobe of liver36Bile duct40Pancreas

Portal vein, vena cava, right renal artery, and bile duct

Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Portal vein, vena cava, right renal artery, and bile duct

4Hepatic artery8Right renal artery10Vena cava12Middle hepatic vein17Portal vein20Right lobe of liver36Bile duct40Pancreas

Portal vein, vena cava, and bile duct

Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Portal vein, vena cava, and bile duct

4Hepatic artery8Right renal artery10Vena cava12Middle hepatic vein17Portal vein20Right lobe of liver36Bile duct40Pancreas

Hepatic artery, bile duct, portal vein

Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Hepatic artery, bile duct, portal vein

1Aorta3Celiac trunk4Hepatic artery5Splenic artery10Vena cava17Portal vein20Right lobe of liver21Left lobe of liver24Ligamentum teres36Bile duct90Spinal column96Diaphragm

Bile duct, gallbladder, vena cava

Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Bile duct, gallbladder, vena cava

1Aorta10Vena cava18Splenic vein20Right lobe of liver21Left lobe of liver22Quadrate lobe24Ligamentum teres30Gallbladder36Bile duct40Pancreas70Stomach90Spinal column96Diaphragm

Bile duct, gallbladder, superior mesenteric vein

Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Bile duct, gallbladder, superior mesenteric vein

1Aorta7Superior mesenteric artery10Vena cava19Superior mesenteric vein20Right lobe of liver21Left lobe of liver22Quadrate lobe24Ligamentum teres30Gallbladder36Bile duct40Pancreas90Spinal column96Diaphragm

Duodenum lateral to head of pancreas

Pancreas / Pancreas in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Duodenum lateral to head of pancreas

17Portal vein20Right lobe of liver36Bile duct73Antrum of stomach76Duodenum

Head of pancreas, bile duct

Pancreas / Pancreas in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Head of pancreas, bile duct

4Hepatic artery10Vena cava17Portal vein20Right lobe of liver36Bile duct41Head of pancreas73Antrum of stomach

Head of pancreas, bile duct

Pancreas / Pancreas in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane

4Hepatic artery10Vena cava17Portal vein22Quadrate lobe23Caudate lobe36Bile duct41Head of pancreas73Antrum of stomach

Head of pancreas, vena cava, superior mesenteric vein

Pancreas / Head of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Head of pancreas, vena cava, superior mesenteric vein

1Aorta19Superior mesenteric vein20Right lobe of liver21Left lobe of liver22Quadrate lobe36Bile duct41Head of pancreas44Uncinate process60Right kidney90Spinal column94Artifact

Head of pancreas, vena cava, superior mesenteric vein, uncinate process, common bile duct

Pancreas / Head of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Head of pancreas, vena cava, superior mesenteric vein, uncinate process, common bile duct

1Aorta10Vena cava19Superior mesenteric vein20Right lobe of liver21Left lobe of liver22Quadrate lobe30Gallbladder36Bile duct41Head of pancreas60Right kidney90Spinal column94Artifact

Head of pancreas, vena cava, superior mesenteric vein, uncinate process, gallbladder

Pancreas / Head of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Head of pancreas, vena cava, superior mesenteric vein, uncinate process, gallbladder

1Aorta10Vena cava19Superior mesenteric vein20Right lobe of liver21Left lobe of liver22Quadrate lobe30Gallbladder36Bile duct41Head of pancreas44Uncinate process60Right kidney70Stomach90Spinal column94Artifact

Body of pancreas, splenic vein

Pancreas / Body of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Body of pancreas, splenic vein

1Aorta4Hepatic artery5Splenic artery7Superior mesenteric artery10Vena cava17Portal vein21Left lobe of liver36Bile duct41Head of pancreas42Body of pancreas43Tail of pancreas70Stomach90Spinal column

Pylorus, pancreas, liver

Stomach / Upper Abdominal Longitudinal Scans of the Stomach from Left to Right · Longitudinal plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Pylorus, pancreas, liver

4Hepatic artery10Vena cava17Portal vein22Quadrate lobe23Caudate lobe36Bile duct41Head of pancreas73Antrum of stomach75Duodenal bulb

Duodenal bulb, liver, vena cava

Stomach / Upper Abdominal Longitudinal Scans of the Stomach from Left to Right · Longitudinal plane

Bile duct ultrasound image, Duodenal bulb, liver, vena cava

10Vena cava17Portal vein22Quadrate lobe36Bile duct41Head of pancreas76Duodenum

Anatomy diagrams, ultrasound images and probe positions are part of the Ultrasound Anatomy atlas. Colours follow the atlas legend, grouping vessels, organs and other structures by type.