Anatomical variation in the insertion of the major duodenal papilla.

Abstract

The major duodenal papilla is usually located about eight centimeters distant from the pyloric ostium, in the descending portion of the duodenum. However, it is known that the distance of the papilla insertion may vary, and the ducts may not unite or not form a papillary structure. We describe the ectopic major duodenal papilla in two corpses owned by the Human Anatomy Laboratory at the Federal University of Ouro Preto.