Anatomy of the liver Flashcards
Anterior anatomy of the liver
Separated into lobes, by the falciform ligament.
- Right lobe
- Left lobe
Falciform ligament extends posteriorly into the ligamentum teres.
Falciform ligament
Ligament located in the abdominal midline.
- Of the ventral mesentery
Attaches the liver to the anterior abdominal wall.
Posterior anatomy of the liver
From here, the two other lobes can be seen:
- Caudate (like a tail)
- Quadrate (four sides).
Impressions:
- Gastric
- Renal
Bare area: the top of the liver that does not contain any visceral peritoneum. This is where the liver is in contact with the diaphragm.
Inferior vena cava, superiorly.
Porta hepatis: entry of many vessels, lymphatics and nerves.
Gallbladder
Lesser omentum
Porta hepatis
A deep fissure at the visceral surface of the liver.
Contains the entry and exit for:
- Common hepatic artery
- Portal vein
- Lymphatics
- Nerves
- Common hepatic duct
Divides the quadrate from the caudate lobe in the liver.
Lesser omentum
Section of the ventral mesentery that connects the lesser curvature of the stomach to the porta hepatis of the liver.
This contains a free edge that encloses:
- Common hepatic artery
- Portal vein
- Common hepatic duct
- Lymph vessel
Gallbladder
Structure located on the visceral surface of the liver- inferiorly.
Stores and concentrate bile created by the liver.
Location of the liver
The top of the liver starts between the 4th and 5th rib and most of the liver is enclosed by ribs.
The liver is mainly located in the right hypochondrium, extends to the epigastric and left hypochondrium.
- Inferior to the diaphragm
- Right of the stomach and the spleen
Functions of the liver
Detoxification
Production of bile
Storage of glycogen
Protein synthesis
Functions of the hepatocytes
Production of plasma proteins in the blood:
- Albumin
- Clotting factors for the clotting cascade
Production of bilirubin that is found in bile.
Production of bile salts- used to emulsify fats.
Peritoneal folds of the liver
Falciform ligament ligamentum teres
- Of the ventral mesentery
- Connects the liver to the anterior abdominal wall
Round ligament:
- A remnant of the umbilical vein—> entends to the umbilicus
Coronary ligament:
- Connects the diaphragm to the liver
Lesser omentum:
- Connects the lesser curvature of the stomach to the porta hepatis of the liver.
Blood supply of the liver
Supply by:
- Common hepatic artery
- Portal vein
Common hepatic artery branches into the L+R hepatic artery.
Portal vein is formed from the conjunction of the splenic and superior mesenteric vein.
Both vessels enter the liver through the porta hepatis.
Coeliac artery
Branch of the abdominal aorta at T12/ L2.
Gives rise to:
- Common hepatic artery
- Splenic artery
- Left gastric artery
Common hepatic artery
Branch of the coeliac artery that gives rise to:
- Hepatic artery proper
- Right gastric artery
- Gastroduodenal artery
Carries oxygenated blood.
Hepatic artery variations [3]
- Right hepatic artery [RHA]
- Left hepatic artery [LHA]
The RHA can arise from the superior mesenteric artery instead of the hepatic artery proper.
The LHA can arise from the left gastric artery instead of the hepatic artery proper.
The common hepatic artery can also trifurcate into the left
Hepatic artery variations [3]
- Right hepatic artery [RHA]
- Left hepatic artery [LHA]
The RHA can arise from the superior mesenteric artery instead of the hepatic artery proper.
The LHA can arise from the left gastric artery instead of the hepatic artery proper.
The common hepatic artery can also trifurcate into the left
