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

In cases of biliary obstruction, it is most likely that the common bile duct is obstructed. The common bile duct is the primary channel through which bile flows from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum. An obstruction here can impede the normal flow of bile and lead to complications such as jaundice, cholangitis, or pancreatitis.

Biliary obstruction can occur due to various reasons such as gallstones, strictures, or tumors, and the common bile duct is particularly susceptible to these issues. If this duct is obstructed, it often results in a backup of bile, affecting digestive processes and causing symptoms that are characteristic of biliary obstruction.

While the cystic duct and right hepatic duct can also be involved in obstructive processes, they are typically not the structures most directly responsible for the obstruction in the broader sense of biliary system blockages. The liver canaliculi are too small and are involved in the initial collection of bile produced by liver cells, rather than being the site of common obstructions seen in clinical scenarios. Therefore, the common bile duct is the structure most likely obstructed in scenarios of biliary obstruction, as it serves as the main conduit for bile flow from the liver and gallbladder to the