Anatomical Posterior Orientation of the Male Liver Notch for Ligamentum Teres

Description

Posterior orientation frames the visceral surface of the male liver around the incisura for the ligamentum teres (incisura ligamenti teretis) at the inferior margin, where the notch continues superiorly as the fissura ligamenti teretis toward the porta hepatis. Medially, this cleft lies between the left lobe proper and the quadrate lobe on the inferior aspect, with the ligamentum venosum fissure expected more posterior and superior in the left sagittal fossa. The caudate lobe and inferior vena cava groove sit posteriorly, while the gallbladder fossa remains to the right of midline. A clean landmark. This posterior view matters because the ligamentum teres, a fibrous remnant of the fetal left umbilical vein, guides you to the left portal pedicle and helps orient segmental anatomy of the left liver during hepatobiliary surgery. When dissecting near the umbilical fissure, surgeons must anticipate small paraumbilical veins and their portosystemic collaterals, which can become prominent in portal hypertension (caput medusae) and bleed during mobilization of the falciform ligament and round ligament. The notch and deep fissure also anchor teaching of Couinaud segmentation by separating adjacent portions of segment III and segment IV on the inferior surface. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and hepatobiliary modules to reinforce the left sagittal fissure, porta hepatis orientation, and embryologic remnants, or in surgical texts describing left hepatectomy, laparoscopic falciform division, and portal triad approaches. It also suits radiology teaching when correlating fissures and ligamental landmarks on CT or MRI of the upper abdomen. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.