Telocytes in the Submucosa of the Extrahepatic Bile Duct

Hepatic ducts carry bile out of the liver and join together forming the common bile duct also known as extrahepatic bile duct. It then traverses the wall of the duodenum and deliver bile into its lumen. In species with a gallbladder, the extrahepatic duct flows into the cystic duct, which conveys bile to and from the gallbladder. In the extrahepatic duct, the submucosa layer forms the furthest internal lining, constituted by loose connective tissue that consist of several diffusing lymphatic aggregations, namely lamina propia. Telocytes (TCs) are special interstitial cells located in the lamina propia and in the connective tissue spaces between smooth muscle cell bundles. This cells were previously known as “interstitial Cajal like-cells (ICLC)” and they play multiple roles at different parts of physiological systems.