THE LIVER. 1061 
(1) The “uncovered area” of the right lobe (Fig. 716) is a considerable portion 
of the back of the right lobe—varying from 1} to 24 inches (3°7 to 6:2 cm.) in width, 
and from 3 to 4 inches (7:5 to 10 cm.) in transverse measurement—which corre- 
sponds to the interval between the two layers of the coronary ligament, and 1s 
devoid of peritoneum. Over this uncovered portion, which looks more inwards than 
backwards, the liver and diaphragm are in direct contact, and are united by areolar 
tissue; here too is established a communication by small veins between the portal 
circulation of the liver and the systemic circulation of the diaphragm. 
(2) Suprarenal Impression.—On the “uncovered area,” immediately to the 
right of (and behind) the vena cava, is a triangular impression (impressio supra- 
renalis, Fig. 716), produced by the suprarenal body, which, projecting upwards from 
the top of the right kidney, becomes wedged in between the diaphragm and liver. 
(3) Fossa of the Vena Cava (fossa venve cavee).—At the left extremity of the 
“uneovered area” the inferior vena cava les vertically, embedded in a fossa 
Superior area of parietal surface 
Y Attachment of 
faleiform ligament 
: Wi, 
Right / 
area of 
parietal Pacis \ Anterior area of 
surface Ses \ ——~ parietal surface 
Round ligament 
Falciform ligament 
Fundus of gall-bladder 
Fic. 715.—THE LIVER FROM THE FRONT, showing the superior, right, and anterior areas of the 
parietal surface. 
of the liver substance, between the Spigelian lobe on the left and the adjacent 
part of the uncovered area on the right, both of which project over the sides 
of the cava, almost hiding it from view (Fig. 716); sometimes they actually 
meet and form a pons hepatis across the back of the vein. 
(4) Spigelian Lobe.—To the left of the fossa of the cava hes the Spigelan lobe 
(lobus caudatus), a prominent oblong mass (Fig. 716), which is placed vertically on 
the back of the liver, between the fissure of the ductus venosus on the left and the 
fossa of the vena cava on the right—the former marking it off from the left lobe, the 
latter from the “uncovered area” of the right lobe. The top of the small sac of 
peritoneum separates the back of the Spigelian lobe from the diaphragm, which 
latter, in turn, separates it from the aorta just before that vessel enters the 
abdomen. 
The upper end of the Spigelian lobe is separated from the superior area of the parietal surface 
by the meeting of the vena cava and the fissure of the ductus venosus in front of it. Its lower 
end is free and prominent, and reaches to the visceral surface, where it usually presents a 
notch or fissure (in which the hepatic artery lies, particularly in the foetus), which marks off a 
larger and more prominent left part (the tuberculum papillare) projecting downwards behind the 
