The Digestive System - Chapter questions - Problem 15F

The pancreatic duct carries the exocrine secretion of the pancreas. This is a colorless fluid that is mainly water plus bicarbonate, salts and enzymes. The bicarbonate acts to buffer the acid gastric juice and establish an alkaline environment necessary for activity of pancreatic enzymes. The right and left hepatic ducts join to form the common hepatic duct, The common hepatic duct distally unites with he cystic duct (from the gall-bladder) to form the common bile duct. The common bile duct contains bile. The common bile duct and the main branch of the pancreatic duct enter the duodenum as a structure called the hepatopancreatic ampulla (or Ampulla of Vater). The hepato-pancreatic ampulla contains bile and pancreatic juice. The left and right hepatic ducts unite to form the common hepatic duct, Distally, the common hepatic duct joins the cystic duct ( of the gall bladder) to form the common bile duct. The common bile duct contains bile. The common bile duct and the major branch of the pancreatic duct join to form the Ampulla of Vater before they enter the duodenum. The entry of these digestive juices is controlled by the a smooth muscle sphincter, the Sphincter of Oddi