THE LIVER 



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bearing its name, to be connected with the inferior vena cava as it leaves the liver. 

 In the foetus this structure is a considerable vessel, which conveys some of the blood 

 brought to the porta hepatis by the left umbilical vein directly backwards to the vena 

 cava. At the time of birth the ductus venosus and umbilical vein cease to carry blood, 

 their cavities become obliterated, and they are converted into fibrous cords. 



(7) Omentum Minus. The lesser omentum is a fold of peritoneum which extends 

 from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach and to the duodenum. 



It is attached, above, to the margins of the porta hepatis, and also to the bottom of the 

 fossa for the ductus venosus. Below, it is connected to the lesser curvature of the 

 stomach, where its two layers separate to enclose that organ, and also to the upper border 

 of the duodenum for an inch or more beyond the pylorus. Between its layers, close to 

 its right or free border, are contained the bile duct, the hepatic artery, the portal vein, and 

 the nerves and lymph vessels passing to and from the porta hepatis (Fig. 939). Its 

 central part is wide, but it is narrow at each end. Of the two ends, the right is free, and 



7th costal cartilage 



Xiphoid process 



7th costal cartilage 



Lig. falciforme 

 hepatis 



Lobus dexter, 

 hepatis 



Vena portse 



Fundus vesicse 

 fellese 



Pars descendens duodeni 



Ductus cysticus ' 

 Peritoneum (cut edge) ', 

 Ductus choledochus 



A. hepatica 



Lig. triangulare 

 sinistrum 

 Diaphragm 

 Fundus 



'Oesophagus 



Lig. gastrolienale 



Incisura angularis 



Paries 'anterior 

 ventriculi 



Lig. gastro- 

 eolicum 



'i \ i Pars pylorica 



Omentum minus 

 i Commencement of duodenum 



Duodenum pars superior 

 Omentum minus (cut edge) 



A. gastrica d extra 



FIG. 939. THE LESSER OMENTUM. 



The left lobe of the liver has been removed, and also the anterior layer of the hepato-duodenal ligament. 

 The view is taken looking upwards as well as backwards. 



stretches from the liver to the duodenum, forming the anterior boundary of the foramen 

 epiploicum. The left end is very narrow, and is attached to the diaphragm between the 

 cesophageal and caval openings. The portion of the lesser omentum passing between the 

 liver and the stomach is known as the ligamentum hepatogastricum ; that between the liver 

 and the duodenum is called the ligamentum hepatoduodenale. 



The reflection from the liver to the superior part of the right kidney (a portion of the 

 inferior layer of the coronary ligament) is termed the hepato-renal ligament. 



The " bare area " of the liver is triangular in shape, and measures about 3 inches 

 its greatest vertical extent, and some 5 inches transversely. It is in contact 

 ith the diaphragm, a portion of the right suprarenal gland, and the inferior 

 ma cava. It is bounded above and below by the superior and inferior folds of 

 coronary ligament, and on the left by the attachment of peritoneum to the 

 'in of the caudate lobe. It is prolonged upwards for a short distance on the 

 iperior surface of . the liver, in front of the inferior vena cava, between the layers 

 the falciform ligament as they diverge from one another. 



