Liver anatomy Flashcards
What are the 3 branches of the abdominal aorta?
coeliac trunk, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), inferior mesenteric artery (IMA)
What is the largest gland of the body?
Liver
Which anatomical position does the liver sit in?
It extends from the right hypochondrium into the epigastrium
What is the significance of the hepatic-renal ouch of Morrison?
A space where ascites may accumulate. This can be detected via ultrasound.
The bare area of the liver is fenced by which structures?
anterior and posterior coronary ligaments = peritoneal reflections which pass the liver surface to the diaphragm.
Which major blood vessel passes through the bare area of the liver?
IVC
What is the embryological significance of the bare area of the liver?
First contact point between the liver and diaphragm.
Why is the bare area vulnerable to infection?
It is not covered by peritoneum, and therefore can easily travel between the abdomen and thorax
What was the embryological relevance of the ligament teres (round ligament)
Remnant of the umbilical vein
Which ligament is an embryological remnant of the ductus venosus?
ligamentum venosum.
What was the function of the ductus venosus in utero?
To shunt oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein -> IVC-> RA thereby bypassing the liver (highly metabolic organ)
What structures lie at the free edge of the lesser omentum?
common hepatic bile duct, hepatic artery proper, hepatic portal vein
What is the lesser omentum?
double fold of peritoneum, which attaches the liver to the stomach
Where is the porta hepatis located on the visceral surface of the liver?
between the caudate and quadrate lobes
What is the function of the porta hepatis?
This is a transverse fixture that allows the passage of the portal triad
Which 5 structures are contained within the porta hepatis?
proper hepatic artery, hepatic portal vein, common bile duct, lymphatic vessels, branch of vagus nerve
What is the dual supply to the liver?
hepatic portal vein (75%), hepatic artery (25%)
blood %
What is the function of the hepatic portal vein?
carries nutrient rich (but relatively oxygen poor) blood from the small intestine to the liver (where it is cleaned)
Define a portal vessel
A vessel which carries blood from a capillary blood in one organ to a capillary blood in another organ
Which 3 veins unite to form the hepatic portal vein (and go on to drain into the IVC)?
SMA, IMA, splenic vein
Portal hypertension can cause varices and bleeding in 5 locations. Name them.
Oesophagus (portal vein), spleen (hepatic portal vein), anorectal (superior rectal veins), abdominal wall (superficial epigastric veins), stomach (portal vein)
What is the function of the gallbladder?
To store bile (<50ml/day)
What is the anatomical position of the gall bladder?
posterior to the 9th costal cartilage on RHS, where the lateral edge of the rectus abdominus crosses the costal margin
What are the 3 segments of the common bile duct?
supraduodenal, retroduodenal, pancreatic
