The anatomy of the sphincter of Oddi

A three-dimensional reconstruction of the intrinsic musculature surrounding the end of the common bile duct in man, generally referred to as the sphincter of Oddi, is presented. Here is visualized grossly for the first time the structure of the muscles in this important region in the adult human. A separate circular sheath of muscle is seen which by contraction can cause the clinical picture known as biliary dyssynergia. The model substantiates in the main and visualizes in three dimensions the findings reported by Hendrickson, Nuboer, Schwegler and Boyden, and Kreilkamp and Boyden.