Branching from the duodenum into the ventral mesentery, the main trunk of the hepatic diverticulum forms the common bile duct. The gallbladder develops as an outgrowth of the bile duct, connected to it by the cystic duct.

The pancreas develops from the ventral and dorsal pancreatic buds, which are outgrowths of the caudal foregut. The dorsal pancreatic bud is larger and initially develops away from the ventral pancreatic bud, into the dorsal mesentery. The ventral pancreatic bud branches from the hepatic diverticulum and grows within the ventral mesentery.