Ampulla of Vater

The Ampulla of Vater is an important part of the human digestive system. It is located at the junction of the common bile duct (CBD) and the main pancreatic duct. Its function is to store and secrete digestive juices into the duodenum that break down food and aid in its digestion. It is a critical component of the human digestive system, as it helps to regulate the amount and timing of secretion of digestive juices and enzymes into the intestines. Disruption of the Ampulla of Vater can lead to digestive disorder such as pancreatitis and gallstones. Its malfunction is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The Ampulla of Vater is an important diagnostic tool for the assessment of certain forms of pancreatic, hepatic and biliary diseases. Furthermore, it is also used in surgical procedures such as gallstone surgery, endoscopic biliary stenting and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).