LIVER WITH GALL BLADDER

Anatomical Structure

Macroscopic

The liver is covered by a fibrous layer, known as Glisson’s capsule. It is comprised of a large right lobe and smaller left lobe. 

There are two further ‘accessory‘ lobes that arise from the right lobe, which are located on the visceral surface of liver:

• Caudate lobe – located on the upper aspect of the visceral surface. It lies between the inferior vena cava and a fossa produced by the ligamentum venosum (a remnant of the fetal ductus venosus).
• Quadrate lobe – located on the lower aspect of the visceral surface. It lies between the gallbladder and a fossa produced by the ligamentum teres (a remnant of the fetal umbilical vein).

Separating the caudate and quadrate lobes is a deep, transverse fissure – known as the porta hepatis. It transmits all the vessels, nerves and ducts entering or leaving the liver with the exception of the hepatic veins.

By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2023)

Fig 4 – The anatomical lobes of the liver.