fibrosis of the hepatic parenchyma due to obstruction of BILE flow (cholestasis) in the intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts (bile ducts, intrahepatic; bile ducts, extrahepatic). Primary biliary cirrhosis involves the destruction of small intra-hepatic bile ducts and bile secretion. Secondary biliary cirrhosis is produced by prolonged obstruction of large intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts from a variety of causes.