An epithelial cell that is part of the bile duct. Cholangiocytes contribute to bile secretion via net release of bicarbonate and water. They are cuboidal epithelium in the small interlobular bile ducts, but become columnar and mucus secreting in larger bile ducts approaching the porta hepatis and the extrahepatic ducts. [ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18356246 GOC:tfm http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16550043 ]
Synonyms: epithelial cell of bile duct
Term information
- FMA:86481
Term relations
- branched duct epithelial cell and part of some bile duct and capable of some bicarbonate transmembrane transporter activity
- endoderm-derived structure
- branched duct epithelial cell
- capable of some (
bicarbonate transmembrane transporter activity and
part of some bile acid secretion) - develops from some hepatoblast
- part of some bile duct