7o3 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



inwards, and is in contact with the right crus of the diaphragm 

 opposite the tenth and eleventh thoracic vertebrae. Its lower 

 margin has been already described (p. 706). The lobe lies at the 

 upper end of the small cavity of the peritoneum. 



The caval fossa lodges a part of the inferior vena cava. It lies 

 vertically, and somewhat deeply, on the posterior surface, having 

 the uncovered area of the right lobe on its right side, Spigel's lobe 

 on its left side, and the caudate lobe below. This fossa is sometimes 

 bridged over by a portion of liver substance, called a pons hepatis. 

 At the upper part of this fossa the hepatic veins open into the 

 inferior vena cava. 



The uncovered area of the right lobe represents its back part. 

 It measures from 2j to 3 inches in the transverse direction, and 

 fully 2 inches from above downwards, except at the extreme right, 

 where it tapers to a point. It is destitute of peritoneum, and is 

 enclosed between the two serous layers which form the coronary 

 ligament, being attached to the diaphragm by areolar tissue. Its 

 direction is backwards and a little inwards. The extreme left end 

 of this area, at a point immediately to the right of the lower end 

 of the caval fossa and near the caudate lobe, presents a somewhat 

 triangular impression, called the impressio suprarenalis, for the 

 right suprarenal body. 



Borders. — ^The chief borders are three in number, namely, postero- 

 superior, postero-inferior, and anterior. The postero-superior and 

 postero-inferior borders give attachment to the two layers of peri- 

 toneum which form the coronary ligament, and they enclose between 

 them the posterior surface. The anterior border is sharp. At its 

 right extremity it passes backwards so as to separate the inferior 

 from the right lateral surface. At its left extremity it also passes 

 backwards, and so forms the thin left margin of the left lobe. Its 

 anterior portion presents two notches, umbilical or interlobar and 

 cystic. The umbilical or interlobar notch is situated fully i inch to 

 the right of the middle line, and transmits the obliterated umbilical 

 vein or round ligament. The cystic notch, often hardly perceptible, 

 is situated about 2 inches to the right of the umbilical notch, and 

 allows the fundus of the gall-bladder to come into contact with the 

 anterior abdominal wall. 



Peritoneal Relations. — ^The liver is covered by peritoneum except 

 in the following regions : the uncovered area of the right lobe ; a 

 small triangular area at the posterior extremity of the hepatic 

 attachment of the falciform ligament ; the portal fissure ; and 

 the cystic fossa, unless in those cases where the gall-bladder is 

 completely invested by peritoneum. 



For the ligaments of the liver, see Index. 



Excretory Apparatus of the Liver. — ^This consists of the hepatic 

 duct, the gall-bladder, the cystic duct, and the common bile-duct. 



The hepatic duct is formed by the union of a right and left 

 branch which issue from the respective lobes at the portal fissure. 

 It is the most anterior of the structures in that fissure^ and, after 



