1064 _ THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. a 
is to say, the “ uncovered area” of the right lobe extends down over the impression for a little 
way. ‘This impression is very deep, and accommodates nearly the whole thickness of the kidney. 
In many hardened specimens it would appear to belong more to the posterior part of the 
parietal than to the inferior or visceral surface. 
The inferior margin of the liver, as already pointed out, separates the parietal 
from the visceral surface. Behind, it is indistinctly marked and corresponds to the 
lower edge of the posterior area, or back, of the parietal surface: it is in con- 
tact with the right nee and runs along the course of the eleventh rib. At¢ the 
right side it is stout but distinct, and usually corresponds to, or projects a little way 
below, the lower border of the thoracic framework. Jn front (margo anterior) it is 
thin and sharp, and crosses the anterior abdominal wall Sey generally corre- 
sponding to a line drawn from a point half an inch (12 mm.) below the margin of 
the ribs (tip of tenth costal cartilage) on the right side to a point an inch below the 
uipple on the left, and extending down in the middle line to a point half-way 
between the gladiolus and the umbilicus. This portion of the lower border 
usually, but not inv greece presents one or two notches. The umbilical notch 
(incisura umbilicalis), by much the more constant of the two (Fig. 715), is 
situated at the anterior end of the umbilical fissure, and corresponds to the lower 
part of the attachment of the falciform ligament. It is usually placed from one to 
two inches (2°5 to 5:0 em.) to the right of the middle line. The second notch, less 
frequently present, corresponds to the fundus of the gall-bladder, and may be 
called the notch of the gall-bladder (incisura vesice felleze). 
At its left extremity the inferior margin passes backwards around the edge of 
the left lobe, and ends at the cesophageal eroove on its back. | 
Fissures of the Liver.—F ive fissures or fossee are usually described in con- 
nexion with the liver; these are: (1) the umbilical fissure, (2) the fissure of the 
ductus venosus; (3) the portal fissure ; (4) the fissure, or fossa, of the gall-bladder ; 
and (5) the fissure, or fossa, of the vena cava. 
Taken together, the five fissures are arranged somewhat in the form of the letter 
A (Fig. 716); the two lower divisions of the diverging limbs being formed by the 
wmnbiheal fissure and the fissure of the gall-bladder respectively, and the cross- -plece 
by the portal fissure—all of which are placed on the inferior or visceral surface. 
The two upper divisions of the limbs are represented by the fissure of the ductus 
yenosus and that of the vena cava, which meet above and are both placed on 
the back or posterior area of the parietal surface. The latter of these two— 
namely, the fissure of the cava, represented by the right upper division of the A— 
does not join the cross-piece (the portal fissure), but is separated from it below by 
a narrow ridge of liver substance—the caudate lobe or process (Fig. 716). 
(1) The umbilical fissure (fossa venee umbilicalis) is a deep crevice-like fissure, 
situated on the visceral surface between the adjacent portions of the quadrate and 
left lobes. At its bottom is seen a stout fibrous band, the round ligament—the 
remains of the umbilical vein of the foetus. The fissure leads from the umbilical 
notch at the inferior border of the liver to the left extremity of the portal fissure 
(Fig. 716), and is very often crossed by a pons hepatis—a band of liver substance 
—which may even extend along the whole length of the fissure, hiding the round 
ligament completely from view. 
(2) The fissure of the ductus venosus (fossa ductus venosi) les on the back of 
the parietal surface of the liver and separates the Spigelian from the left lobe 
(Fig. 716). It joins the portal fissure below, opposite the umbilical fissure; and 
above, it meets the fissure of the vena cava. On separating its sides there is found 
at its bottom a fibrous band, usually much thinner than the round lgament: this 
is the remains of the ductus venosus of the foetus. 
The umbilical fissure and the fissure of the ductus venosus taken together con- 
stitute the longitudinal fissure of the liver (fossa longitudinalis sinistra), which 
separates the right from the left lobe on both the inferior and posterior aspects. It 
will be observed that all other fissures and all other lobes (except the left) lie to 
the right of the longitudinal fissure, and therefore are situated on the right lobe. 
(3) The portal or transverse fissure (porta hepatis) when examined in the un- 
hardened liver appears as a wide depression, hounded by prominent lips, which runs 
