Presentation of the Lateral Division of the Left Liver Seen from the Side

Description

Oblique lateral profile of the male left hepatic lobe (hepar), emphasizing the lateral division (Couinaud segments II and III) along the anterolateral margin beneath the left hemidiaphragm. The superior border follows the diaphragmatic surface, while the inferior edge approaches the visceral surface where the left lobe tapers toward the left hepatic margin. Anteriorly, the hepatic parenchyma relates to the anterior abdominal wall and costal cartilages; posteriorly it curves toward the lesser omentum and the region of the fissure for the ligamentum venosum. Clean contour. Few landmarks distract from the segmental outline. Focusing on the lateral division matters because segments II and III are the usual target of a left lateral sectionectomy, a standard parenchyma-sparing resection for colorectal liver metastasis, hepatocellular carcinoma in noncirrhotic liver, and living-donor transplantation (left lateral segment graft in pediatric recipients). The side view clarifies how the lateral segment sits under the ribs and diaphragm, a point that affects trocar placement, mobilization of the left triangular ligament, and safe control of the left hepatic vein near its confluence with the inferior vena cava. Segmental anatomy is surgical anatomy. Use this artwork in hepatobiliary surgery teaching, transplant planning lectures, and anatomy coursework that introduces Couinaud segmentation and surface projections of the liver on physical exam and cross-sectional imaging correlation. It also fits atlases and journal figures discussing left lobe lesions, left hepatic vein variants, or laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy technique. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.