THE LIVER 1185 



sponds to the reflections of peritoneum from the liver to the diaphragm at the mar- 

 gins of the 'uncovered area' (fig. 944) on the posterior surface of the liver. 



Within this uncovered area the hepatic veins join the inferior vena cava. The coronary 

 ligament, though somewhat irregular and variable in form, is elongated laterally and roughly 

 quadrangular. At the four angles, the peritoneal layers come together and are prolonged into 

 four ligaments — right and left triangular (lateral) and falciform hgaments and lesser omentum. 

 There is often also a special prolongation of the coronary ligament downward upon the right 

 kidney, forming the hepato-renal hgament [Ug. hepatorenal]. This lies to the right of the fora- 

 men epiploicum. 



The right triangular (or lateral) ligament [lig. triangulare dextrum] is a short but variable 

 prolongation of the coronary ligament to the right and downward (figs. 905, 944) . It connects 

 the posterior surface of the right lobe of the liver with the corresponding portion of the diaphragm. 



The left triangular (lateral) ligament [lig. triangulare sinistrum] is a longer, narrower pro- 

 longation of the coronary ligament to the left (figs. 905. 944). It connects the posterior as- 

 pect of the left lobe of the liver with the corresponding portion of the diaphragm. 



The falciform ligament [lig. falciforme hepatis] is a double layer of peritoneum 

 representing (as before mentioned) the ventral portion of the primitive ventral 

 mesogastrium. 



Its upper end is continuous posteriorly with the coronary ligament. It passes forward 

 and downward over the superior surface of the liver. From its line of attachment to the hver 

 (between right and left lobes) it passes forward and slightly to the left to the attachment on the 

 anterior body waU. This attachment extends downward shghtly to the right of the mid-Une 

 to the umbihcus. The lower margin of the falciform hgament is free, and encloses the round 

 ligament. 



The round ligament [lig. teres hepatis] is a fibrous cord representing the obliter- 

 ated foetal left umbilical vein. It extends upward from the umbilicus enclosed in 

 the lower margin of the falciform ligament. 



At the anterior margin of the liver it passes backward on the inferior surface, enclosed in a 

 shght peritoneal fold at the bottom of the fossa venae umbilicalis (sometimes bridged over by 

 liver tissue). It ends by joining the left branch of the portal vein. 



The ligamentum venosum [hg. venosum; Arantii] similarly represents the obliterated festal 

 ductus venosus. It is a fibrous cord lying in the fossa ductus venosi, and extends from the left 

 branch of the portal vein upward to the left hepatic vein near its opening into the vena cava. 

 The ligamentum venosum lies within the hepatic attachment of the lesser omentum. 



The lesser omentum [omentum minus] has already been discussed in connec- 

 tion with the peritoneum. It represents the dorsal part of the primitive ventral 

 mesogastrium, extending from the stomach to the liver. It includes two parts, as 

 shown in fig. 906. 



The upper and larger part forms the gastro-hepatic ligament [lig. hepato-gastricum], connect- 

 ing the liver (fossa ductus venosi) with the lesser curvatm-e of the stomach. The upper part 

 of this ligament is somewhat thicker, the lower part thinner and more transparent. The rela- 

 tions of the lesser omentum in cross-section of the body are shown in fig. 903. The lower and 

 right portion of the lesser omentum extends beyond the pylorus and connects the portal fissure 

 with the duodenum, forming the hepato-duodenal ligament [lig. hepatoduodenale] (fig. 905). 

 Its right margin forms the anterior boundary of the epiploic foramen (of Winslow). Between 

 its layers are located the root structures of the liver, as follows: hepatic artery to the left, 

 common bile duct to the right, portal vein behind and between. A special prolongation of the 

 hepato-duodenal hgament frequently extends downward to the transverse colon, forming the 

 hepato-colic ligament [lig. hepatocolicum]. 



Fixation of the liver. — The liver is to a certain extent fixed in place by means of 

 its various ligaments, and especially through the attachment of the hepatic veins 

 to the inferior vena cava. On account of the close apposition of the liver to the 

 diaphragm, the atmospheric pressure also helps in its support. Finally, the sup- 

 port of the liver, as well as of the abdominal viscera in general, is dependent to a 

 considerable extent upon the tonic contraction of the abdominal muscles, which 

 exerts a constant pressure upon the abdominal contents. 



Blood-vessels. — The Uver receives its arterial supply of blood from the hepatic artery, a 

 branch of the c celiac, which passes up between the two layers of the lesser omentum, and 

 dividing into two branches, one for each lobe, enters the liver at the portal fissure. The right 

 branch gives off a branch to the gall-bladder. The liver receives a much larger supply of blood 

 from the portal vein, which conveys to the liver blood from the stomach, intestines, pancreas, 

 and spleen. It enters the portal fissure, and there divides into two branches. Below this 

 fissure the hepatic artery lies to the left, the bile-duct to the right, and the portal vein behind and 

 between the two (fig. 946). These three structures ascend to the liver between the layers of 

 the lesser omentum in front of the epiploic foramen. At the actual fissure the order of the three 

 structures from before backward is— duct, artery, vein. 

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