Space
Calot's triangle
Gallbladder-neck landmarks with two historical definitions
High-yield
Specify the definition: in the hepatocystic triangle the cystic artery is a content; in Calot's original description it formed a border.
Overview
The name Calot triangle is used for a small region beside the gallbladder neck, but its boundaries depend on the definition. The hepatocystic triangle used today extends between the cystic duct, common hepatic duct and liver. The historical triangle instead used the cystic artery as its upper boundary.
Reference facts
- Boundaries
- Hepatocystic definition: common hepatic duct medially, cystic duct inferolaterally and inferior liver surface superiorly. Historical definition substitutes the cystic artery for the liver boundary.
- Contents
- Cystic artery and lymph node, lymphatics, fat and connective tissue; hepatic arterial or ductal variants may traverse the area.
- Communications
- Situated beside the gallbladder neck and upper extrahepatic biliary tract, adjacent to the hepatoduodenal ligament and liver hilum.
Clinical correlation
Inflammation and branching variants can make the gallbladder's vessels and duct difficult to distinguish from neighboring hepatic structures. The critical view of safety is a formal surgical identification method; seeing two tubular structures alone does not fulfill all its criteria.
Frequently asked questions
What are the boundaries of the calot's triangle?
Hepatocystic definition: common hepatic duct medially, cystic duct inferolaterally and inferior liver surface superiorly. Historical definition substitutes the cystic artery for the liver boundary.
What does the calot's triangle contain?
Cystic artery and lymph node, lymphatics, fat and connective tissue; hepatic arterial or ductal variants may traverse the area.
What does the calot's triangle communicate with?
Situated beside the gallbladder neck and upper extrahepatic biliary tract, adjacent to the hepatoduodenal ligament and liver hilum.