Anatomy of fetal pancreaticobiliary

Objective:To investigate anatomic features of fetal pancreaticobiliary and duodenal papilla.Methods:36 foetus with the fetal ages of 4 to 9 months,6 hours after death by induction of labor with water bag,were studied.The gallbladder,common bile duct,pancreatic duct and duodenum of them were removed and preserved in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution for 24 hours.The location and shape of the greater duodenal papilla were observed,and then serial sections of the specimens,with the thickness of 6 μm,were performed and HE stained,and followed by the observation of the union of pancreatic and bile common ducts under the microscope.Results:1) Major duodenal papilla showed the shapes of hemispheroid(58.1%),circular cylinder(25%) and applanation(16.9%),which located at the upper pars descendens duodenum(8.3%),the middle pars descendens duodenum(69.4%),the lower pars descendens duodenum(19.4%) or the farer(2.9%).2) The types of pancreaticobiliary ductal union could be classified into four types:Y in 24 specimens(66.7%),U in 4 specimens(11.1%),V in 7 specimens(19.4%)and APBDU type in 1 specimens(2.8%).Conclusions:Pancreaticobiliary ductal union is variable and individual.