What structure is most likely obstructed in a client experiencing biliary obstruction?

Biliary obstruction typically occurs when there is a blockage in the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the duodenum. The common bile duct is a major pathway for bile drainage from the liver and gallbladder. An obstruction in this duct can lead to a buildup of bile, which can result in symptoms like jaundice and abdominal pain.

While the cystic duct is also part of the biliary system, its primary role is to connect the gallbladder to the common bile duct, thus allowing bile to flow into the gallbladder for storage. An obstruction in the cystic duct can limit bile release from the gallbladder but does not usually lead to a complete biliary obstruction as might occur with issues in the common bile duct.

The right hepatic duct transports bile from the right lobe of the liver and could be obstructed in certain conditions, but again, it would be less common than an obstruction at the level of the common bile duct, where a significant impact on the overall bile flow would occur. Liver canaliculi are the small ducts between hepatocytes that are not commonly associated directly with biliary obstruction symptoms seen in clinical settings.

Thus, in cases of biliary obstruction, the common bile duct is the most