ANATOMY OF LIVER

Liver is a soft, dark brown highly vascular organ.

Largest gland in the body
Secretes bile & performs various metabolic functions
Occupies the whole of the right hypochondrium,
greater part of epigastrium & extends into the left
hypochondrium
Weight - 1400 – 1800 gms in males
1200 – 1400 gms in females.
Lobes

of liver
Large right lobe (5/6) and a small left lobe
Divided by the attachment of falciform ligament
(anteriorly & superiorly)
Fissure of ligamentum teres (inferiorly)
Fissure of ligamentum venosum (posteriorly)
Caudate lobe
- lies between the IVC & fissure for ligamentum venosum
- connected to the right lobe by the caudate process
Quadrate lobe
- lies between the gall bladder & the fissure for ligamentum
teres
The caudate & quadrate lobes are separated by the porta
hepatis
Surfaces of liver
Two surfaces, diaphragmatic surface & visceral surface
(posteroinferior)
Separated by the inferior border
Diaphragmatic surface
- smooth, dome-shaped
- conforms to the concavity of the inferior surface of the
diaphragm
-Separates the liver from thoracic structures
Visceral surface
- directed posteriorly, inferiorly & to the left
- many irregularities on this surface
Hepatic Segments

On the basis of blood supply and biliary drainage
there are four main hepatic sectors.
 Left lateral
 Left medial
 Right anterior
 Right posterior

These four sectors are further divided into eight
segments.
Relations
Diaphragmatic surface is related to the diaphragm and
right and left costal margins
Visceral surface is related to abdominal part of
oesophagus, the stomach, the duodenum, the right
colic flexure, transverse colon, the right kidney, right
suprarenal gland and the gall bladder
Areas not covered by peritoneum
- bare area
- groove for inferior vena cava
- fossa for the gall bladder
- porta hepatis
PORTAL SYSTEM
Large vein which collects blood from
- abdominal part of alimentary tract
- gall bladder
- pancreas
- spleen
begins as capillary plexus and ends by emptying
blood into the sinusoids of liver.
Formed by the union of splenic vein & superior
mesenteric vein
Posterior to the neck of pancreas
Level of L2
Relations
Runs behind first part of duodenum
Free margin of lesser omentum -anterior to bile duct (right)
and hepatic artery (left)
Ends at the right end of porta hepatis
Infraduodenal
- anterior: neck of pancreas
- posterior: IVC
Retroduodenal
- 1st part of duodenum
- CBD
- gastroduodenal artery
Portal Vein Tributaries
Splenic vein – it receives the inferior mesenteric
vein.
Superior mesenteric vein
Left gastric vein
Right gastric vein
Superior pancreaticoduodenal
Cystic vein
Porto-systemic anastomosis
 Umbilicus
 Lower end of oesophagus
 Anal canal
 Bare area of the liver
 Posterior abdominal wall
 Liver (rare)
References
Prof Dr. Nasaruddin’s notes
PM Dr. Jeya’s notes
http://www.radiologyassistant.nl
Gray’s Clinical Anatomy Textbook