Hepatocystic Triangle

trigonum cystohepaticum

The hepatocystic triangle, often called Calot triangle, is a small space bounded by the cystic duct below, the common hepatic duct on the inside and the underside of the liver above. It usually contains the cystic artery and the cystic lymph node, and often the right hepatic artery. Calot's original triangle used the cystic artery rather than the liver as its upper border.

Anatomical Data

Structure & Supply

Location	Between the neck of the gallbladder, the cystic duct, the common hepatic duct and the inferior surface of the liver
Parts	Cystic duct (inferior border) Common hepatic duct (medial border) Inferior surface of the liver (superior border) Cystic artery Cystic lymph node Right hepatic artery (often)
Blood Supply	Cystic artery; Right hepatic artery
Lymphatic drainage	Cystic node

Biomechanics

Function & Actions

A surgical landmark that contains the cystic artery and guides safe removal of the gallbladder.

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Clearing this triangle of fat and fibrous tissue until only two structures (the cystic duct and cystic artery) enter the gallbladder is the critical view of safety, the main way to avoid bile duct injury in cholecystectomy. A tortuous right hepatic artery can loop into the triangle and be mistaken for the cystic artery. Inflammation can scar and shrink the triangle, making dissection dangerous.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Iatrogenic Bile Duct Injury

Damage to the common hepatic or bile duct during cholecystectomy, often from misidentifying structures in the triangle.

Cystic Artery Bleeding

Haemorrhage from the cystic artery or a looping right hepatic artery during dissection of the triangle.

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