biliary ductule

7.5

A very small tube in the liver that carries bile to larger bile ducts

noun
/ˈbɪl.i.ɛr.i ˈdʌk.tjuːl/

Specialized

: ducto biliar

The biliary ductule helps transport bile from the liver to the hepatic ducts.

Examples

Damage to a biliary ductule can interfere with the normal flow of bile.
Microscopic examination revealed inflammation in several biliary ductules within the liver tissue.
The biliary ductule plays a crucial role in bile transport.
Many biliary ductules are found in the liver.
Damage to a biliary ductule can interfere with the normal flow of bile.
Microscopic examination revealed inflammation in several biliary ductules within the liver tissue.
The biliary ductule helps transport bile from the liver to the hepatic ducts.

Synonyms

ductule

vsbiliary ductule

Specialized

9.7

A very small tube in the body that carries fluids like bile or tears

is specific to the liver and drains bile into larger hepatic ducts

Surface Forms

biliary ductule singular

biliary ductules plural

Morphology

biliary + ductule

The compound is directly compositional: 'biliary' = related to bile and 'ductule' = a small duct, so the combined meaning 'a small duct that carries bile' follows transparently from the constituents. Although technical in register, the semantic assembly is regular and predictable, so a learner who knows both constituent meanings can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Biliary ductule comes from the parts biliary, which means 'bile' or the liver fluid, and ductule, which means a very small 'duct' or tube. Imagine a tiny tube inside the liver carrying yellow-green 'bile' into larger tubes, so it means 'a small duct that carries bile into the larger ducts'.