- Unveils liver's visceral surface anatomy
- Details liver's connections with adjacent organs
- Describes the epiploic foramen's significance
- Discusses liver's fissures and their roles
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TranscriptIn the intricate world of human anatomy, the liver stands out for its essential functions and complex structure. The visceral surface of the liver, also known as the inferior surface, presents an uneven, concave shape that is oriented downward, backward, and to the left, establishing critical connections with other organs such as the stomach, duodenum, right colic flexure, as well as the right kidney and suprarenal gland.
This surface is predominantly covered by peritoneum, except for two regions—the site of the gallbladder's attachment and the porta hepatis. Here, the connective tissues and vessels of the liver are accessible, as the peritoneal layers are parted.
Focusing on the left lobe of the liver, one finds the gastric impression, which is shaped by the antero-superior surface of the stomach. Adjacent to this impression, the tuber omentale, a rounded prominence, nestles into the concavity of the stomach's lesser curvature and is positioned anterior to the lesser omentum.
When examining the right lobe, it is divided by the fossa for the gallbladder into two parts: the quadrate lobe and the area to the right of the fossa. The quadrate lobe, in closer proximity to the pyloric end of the stomach, duodenum, and transverse colon, plays a role in digestion. The portion to the right features two impressions, the colic and renal impressions, which accommodate the right colic flexure and the upper part of the right kidney and lower part of the right suprarenal gland, respectively. Between these impressions and the gallbladder's neck lies the duodenal impression, shaped by the descending duodenum.
Notably, the caudate process of the liver, a slender section of hepatic tissue, extends from the caudate lobe to the right lobe's undersurface, demarcating the upper boundary of the omental foramen, also known as the epiploic foramen. This is a pivotal passage within the peritoneal cavity, allowing for the transit of structures such as the hepatic portal vein and the hepatic artery.
The liver's visceral surface is marked by three key fissures or fossae—right and left sagittal fossae and the transverse fissure—arranged in an 'H' pattern. The left sagittal fossa is comprised of two parts: the anterior section housing the ligamentum teres and the posterior section containing the ligamentum venosum, both remnants of fetal circulatory structures. The right sagittal fossa includes the fossa for the gallbladder and the groove for the inferior vena cava, the latter occasionally encapsulated by liver tissue. Lastly, the transverse fissure, or porta hepatis, is a concise, deep fissure that conveys vital vessels and nerves, positioning the hepatic duct and hepatic artery strategically within the liver's architecture.
Understanding these complex anatomical relationships is not only fascinating but critical for comprehending liver function and its implication in health and disease.
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