Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

Through which structure do the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct empty?

1. Ampulla of Vater

2. Duct of Santorini

3. Wirsung's duct

4. Sphincter of Oddi

The correct answer is: Ampulla of Vater

The common bile duct and the pancreatic duct empty into the ampulla of Vater. This structure is located at the second part of the duodenum, where the bile and pancreatic juices are delivered to aid in the digestion of fats and neutralization of stomach acids. The convergence of the bile duct and pancreatic duct at the ampulla of Vater is critical for digestive processes, as it allows the necessary enzymes and bile to enter the small intestine simultaneously. While the Duct of Santorini, also known as the accessory pancreatic duct, is another duct associated with pancreatic drainage, it is not the primary duct that both the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct empty into. Wirsung's duct is actually the main pancreatic duct, which transports the pancreatic juices but it is still separate from where the common bile duct drains. The sphincter of Oddi is a muscular valve that controls the flow of digestive juices (bile and pancreatic juices) from the ampulla of Vater into the duodenum but does not itself serve as a drainage structure for the bile and pancreatic ducts.