Although biliary epithelial cells (BECs) line both the lumen of both the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tract they have distinct developmental origins, with the BECs of the gall bladder and extrahepatic bile ducts (EHBD) arising from the caudal portion of the hepatic diverticulum and the BECs of the intrahepatic biliary tract arising from the anterior portion of the hepatic diverticulum. While some of the same genes control BEC fate in both the IHBD and EHBD, other aspects of their development appears distinct.
EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT & STEM CELL COMPENDIUM
