Functional division of the liver

Anatomy of the liver

Anatomically, the liver is viewed as having four main lobes. There is a smaller left lobe and a larger right lobe (that are separated along the attachment of the falciform ligament), as well as a caudate and a quadrate lobe (which are part of the anatomical right lobe).

However, the distribution of the portal blood supply and biliary drainage of the liver allows the organ to be functionally divided into four sectors, which are subsequently divided to give a total of eight segments.

Functional division of the liver

The division of the liver into equally sized functional left and right lobes is done by drawing a line through the midline of the gallbladder and the inferior vena cava. As opposed to the anatomical division that results in the caudate and quadrate lobes being between the right and left anatomical lobes of the liver, this division results in the caudate and quadrate lobes being a part of the functional left lobe.

Each functional lobe can then be further subdivided into their respective sectors. The functional left lobe is divided into a left lateral and a left medial sector along the attachment of the falciform ligament and through the fissures for ligamentum venosum and ligamentum teres. The left lateral lobe lies to the left of the fissures and falciform ligament, while the left medial lobe lies between this line and the main demarcation that separates the liver into its functional lobes.

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Similarly, the functional right lobe is divided into the right medial and right lateral sectors by an oblique line that passes anteroposteriorly from the midpoint of the right lobe to the vena caval groove. Unlike the other sectorial markings, there is no visible impression on the liver that illustrates the division of the functional right lobe. It should also be noted that because of the rounded shape of the lateral border of the liver, the right medial and right lateral sectors are sometimes referred to as the right anterior and right posterior sectors, respectively.

Blood flow

The hepatic portal vein is responsible for delivering approximately 70% of the blood that passes through the liver. The roughly 30% that remains is carried by the hepatic artery. The hepatic portal vein is formed from the union of the splenic vein, inferior mesenteric vein and the superior mesenteric vein. It also receives tributaries from the right and left gastric veins. The left gastroepiploic vein drains to the portal vein by way of the splenic vein; while the right gastroepiploic vein, inferior and superior pancreaticoduodenal veins do so via the superior mesenteric vein.

The left lateral segment processes blood from the stomach and lower esophagus, distal body and tail of pancreas, the greater curvature of the stomach, and the hindgut by way of the splenic, gastric and inferior mesenteric veins. On the other hand, the functional right lobe of the liver processes blood coming from the head of the pancreas, the pylorus and antrum of the stomach, and the midgut via the superior mesenteric vein. The left medial segment receives blood from the entire gastrointestinal tract.

The caudate lobe (segment I) is the autonomous zone of the liver. It receives portal venous, as well as hepatic arterial, blood from both branches of the aforementioned vessels. Additionally, its biliary drainage is by both branches of the hepatic ducts and its venous return goes directly into the inferior vena cava. Segments II, III and IV access blood supply, and achieve venous and biliary drainage by the left branches of the responsible vessels.

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Portosystemic (portacaval) circulation

The body is also equipped with vast circulatory anastomoses that provide an alternative route for venous drainage in the instance that there is obstruction. These points of mixing of portal and systemic circulation are known as portacaval or portosystemic anastomoses.

There are five such junctions in the body:

1. esophageal portacaval anastomosis: the middle esophagus is drained by tributaries to the azygous vein, which drains to the inferior vena cava. The lower esophagus is drained by tributaries to the left gastric vein, which drains to the hepatic portal vein. These tributaries form the esophageal portacaval anastomosis at the level of T8 vertebra above the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm.
2. periumbilical portosystemic anastomosis: there are para-umbilical veins that travel on either side of the ligamentum teres and drains to the hepatic portal vein. It forms the periumbilical portosystemic anastomosis with the epigastric veins (which drains to the internal & common iliac veins), thus establishing a portacaval junction.
3. retroperitoneal portacaval anastomosis: is formed where the ascending and descending limbs of the colon are intact with the posterior abdominal wall, retroperitoneal veins that drain to the inferior vena cava anastomose with tributaries to the superior and inferior mesenteric veins.
4. Above the bare area of the liver, anastomotic pathways between the portal vein and the azygous venous plexus form to provide portal and systemic communication.
5. anal portacaval system: is formed at the level of the anal columns. The anastomosis is made from the superior rectal vein (that drains the superior part of the anal canal to the inferior mesenteric vein) and the middle and inferior rectal veins (that drains the lower part of the anal canal to the internal iliac veins).