European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

SEGMENTAL AND/OR SUBSEGMENTAL ANATOMY OF THE ANTERIOR SECTOR IN HUMAN LIVER

Dragica Jurkovikj*

ABSTRACT

Background. New concepts of liver functional anatomy were proposed. Based on the further subdivision of the second-order portal branches the segments were subdivided into 6 to 8 cone shaped units. The anterior sector segments were subdivided into ventral and dorsal areas. Methods. On 27/30 portobiliary casts, obtained post-mortem from adult liver specimens, the anterior sector portal vein ramification and functional subdivision were observed. Results. The anterior portal vein branch presented four different models of ramification: termination into segment 5, termination into segment 8, common termination into both, segments 8 and 5 and mixed model of separately and common ramification into both segments. Based on the grouping of collaterals and terminal branches of anterior portal vein branch into segments 5 and 8 the ventral and dorsal subunits were determined. Different types of subdivision were found: a subdivision of both segments into ventral and dorsal subunits in 51.85%, then only segment 5 subdivided in 25.93% of casts, only segment 8 subdivided in 11.11%, then not subdivided both segments in one case only with ventral subunits and in the other one only with dorsal segment 8 and ventral segment 5 subunits in 7.41% and in the last one 3.70% with dorsal and ventral segment 8 subunits and two dorsal and one ventral segment 5 subunits. Conclusions. Anterior sector of the liver was divided into segments 8 and 5. Based on the terminal and collateral ramification of anterior portal vein branch into these segments a further subdivision into ventral and dorsal subunits was noted.

Keywords: liver, anterior sector, subsegmental anatomy, portal vein, injection-corrosive casts.