Duodenal bulb

Duodenal bulb
Interior of the stomach. (There is no label for "Duodenal bulb", but the portion of the duodenum labeled at upper left is the duodenal bulb.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	ampulla duodeni,[1] bulbus duodeni[1]
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The duodenal bulb (also ampulla of duodenum, duodenal ampulla, or duodenal cap) is the initial, dilated portion of (the superior part of) the duodenum^[1] just distal to the stomach; it begins at the pylorus and ends at the neck of the gallbladder. It is normally about 5 centimeters long.^[2]

Structure

Relations

It is located posterior to the liver and the gallbladder and superior to the pancreatic head.^{[citation needed]} The gastroduodenal artery,^[3] portal vein, and common bile duct are situated posterior to the duodenal bulb. The distal part of the bulb is located retroperitoneally. It is located immediately distal to the pyloric sphincter.^{[citation needed]}

Clinical significance

The duodenal bulb is the site of duodenal ulcer occurrence. Duodenal ulcers are more common than gastric ulcers and - unlike gastric ulcers - are caused by increased gastric acid secretion. Duodenal ulcers are commonly located anteriorly, and rarely posteriorly. Anterior ulcers can be complicated by perforation, while the posterior ones bleed. The reason for that is explained by their location. The peritoneal or abdominal cavity is located anterior to the duodenum. Therefore, if the ulcer grows deep enough, it will perforate, whereas if a posterior ulcer grows deep enough, it will penetrate the gastroduodenal artery and bleed.^{[citation needed]}

Notes

External links

• Diagram - look for figure #2, item #5
• MedEd at Loyola Radio/curriculum/GI/sandy44a.jpg
• Images at gastrolab.net

This page was last edited on 25 April 2024, at 00:44