Posterior Profile of the Male Liver Fissure for Ligamentum Venosum

Description

Posteriorly, the fissure for the ligamentum venosum (sulcus for the ductus venosus, sulcus Arantii) runs in a sagittal groove between the left lobe and the caudate lobe, marking the plane of the left sagittal fissure. Superiorly it approaches the porta hepatis and the left branch of the portal vein, while inferiorly it continues toward the fissure for the ligamentum teres on the visceral surface. The caudate lobe lies medial to the groove, with the left hepatic lobe positioned more lateral and anterior. Clean topography. Clinically, this landmark matters because it anchors orientation on the visceral (posterior) surface when you need to distinguish caudate lobe anatomy from the left lobe during hepatobiliary surgery and cross sectional imaging. The ligamentum venosum is the fibrous remnant of the fetal ductus venosus, and its fissure is routinely used to define segment I (caudate) boundaries in Couinaud segmentation, a practical guide during segmental hepatectomy or when describing tumor location. Radiologists also use the fissure as a reliable plane when tracking portal venous branching and when differentiating caudate hypertrophy, often seen in cirrhosis, from left lobe enlargement on CT or MRI. Suitable for gross anatomy teaching (abdominal viscera, liver surface anatomy), surgical atlases covering the porta hepatis and segment I approaches, and radiology education where the fissure for ligamentum venosum helps correlate visceral surface landmarks with portal triad anatomy in axial and coronal datasets. It also fits patient facing materials explaining fetal circulation remnants in adult liver anatomy. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.