What it means
Examples are the bile ducts from the liver and gallbladder, the pancreatic duct, the milk ducts of the breast, the tear ducts and the thoracic duct of the lymph system. A blocked duct, as from a gallstone, causes pain and backup of fluid.
At a glance
| Spanish | conducto |
|---|---|
| Also written | ducts |
Related terms
pancreas
A long, flat gland behind the stomach that makes digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon.
patent ductus arteriosus
A heart defect in which the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel between the aorta and pulmonary artery, stays open after birth.