Anatomy and Cell Biology

Korean Association of Anatomists (대한해부학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

A marginal branch of the left hepatic artery running along the umbilical vein and supplying the anterior surface of the liver left lobe: a report of 5 cases in 12 Japanese human fetuses

  • Ji Hyun Kim (Department of Anatomy, Jeonbuk National University Medical School) ;
  • Shogo Hayashi (Department of Anatomy, Division of Basic Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine) ;
  • Gen Murakami (Division of Internal Medicine, Cupid Clinic) ;
  • Jose Francisco Rodriguez-Vazquez (Department of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Medicine, Complutense University) ;
  • Hiroshi Abe (Department of Anatomy, Akita University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2023.04.03
  • Accepted : 2023.07.17
  • Published : 2023.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

In human fetuses, the left hepatic artery (LHA) issues the marginal artery that runs along the umbilical vein and, sometimes, reaches the umbilicus. The further observation demonstrated that, in 5 of 12 Japanese midterm fetuses (crown-rump length mm: 46, 50, 54, 59, 102), the marginal artery issued not only a thin umbilical branch but also a liver parenchymal branch that took a posterosuperior recurrent course in a peritoneal fold and supplied the anterior surface of the liver left lobe (segment III). However, in 22 Spanish fetuses of which gestational ages corresponded to the Japanese ones, we did not find the parenchymal branch. Therefore, between human populations, there seemed to be a considerable difference in the incidence as to whether or not the marginal artery issues the liver parenchymal branch. The parenchymal branch might be degenerated at the later stages due to friction between the liver free surface and growing diaphragm.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (JSPS KAKENHI No. 16K08435; to Hiroshi Abe) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan.

References

  1. Michels NA. Blood supply and anatomy of the upper abdominal organs: with a descriptive atlas. J.B. Lippincott; 1955. 
  2. Kim JH, Hayashi S, Jin ZW, Murakami G, Rodriguez-Vazquez JF. Umbilical cord vessels other than the umbilical arteries and vein: a histological study of midterm human fetuses. Anat Cell Biol 2022;55:467-74.  https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.22.102
  3. Hwang SE, Cho BH, Hirai I, Kim HT, Kim JH, Fujimiya M, Murakami G, Kimura W. Topographical anatomy of Spiegel's lobe and its adjacent organs in mid-term fetuses: its implication on the development of the lesser sac and adult morphology of the upper abdomen. Clin Anat 2010;23:712-9.  https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.20995
  4. Wang BJ, Kim JH, Yu HC, Rodriguez-Vazquez JF, Murakami G, Cho BH. Fetal intrahepatic gallbladder and topographical anatomy of the liver hilar region and hepatocystic triangle. Clin Anat 2012;25:619-27. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.21288
  5. Onishi H, Kawarada Y, Das BC, Nakano K, Gadzijev EM, Ravnik D, Isaji S. Surgical anatomy of the medial segment (S4) of the liver with special reference to bile ducts and vessels. Hepatogastroenterology 2000;47:143-50. 
  6. Kitami M, Murakami G, Suzuki D, Takase K, Tsuboi M, Saito H, Takahashi S. Heterogeneity of subvesical ducts or the ducts of Luschka: a study using drip-infusion cholangiography-computed tomography in patients and cadaver specimens. World J Surg 2005;29:217-23.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-004-7652-5
  7. Champetier J, Yver R, Tomasella T. Functional anatomy of the liver of the human fetus: applications to ultrasonography. Surg Radiol Anat 1989;11:53-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02102248
  8. Tongprasert F, Srisupundit K, Luewan S, Tongsong T. Normal length of the fetal liver from 14 to 40 weeks of gestational age. J Clin Ultrasound 2011;39:74-7.  https://doi.org/10.1002/jcu.20756
  9. Szpinda M, Paruszewska-Achtel M, Wozniak A, Badura M, Mila-Kierzenkowska C, Wisniewski M. Three-dimensional growth dynamics of the liver in the human fetus. Surg Radiol Anat 2015;37:439-48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1437-4
  10. Cho YH, Murakami G, Lee MS, Song CH, Han EH, Jin ZW, Cho BH. Hypoplasia of the left portal vein territory of the human liver: a case study. J Korean Med Sci 2003;18:828-32.  https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2003.18.6.828
  11. Lee UY, Murakami G, Han SH. Left lobe hypoplasia of the human liver: a report of two cases. Surg Radiol Anat 2004;26:417-23.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-004-0255-x
  12. Kogure K, Kojima I, Kuwano H, Matsuzaki T, Yorifuji H, Takata K, Makuuchi M. Reconfirmation of the anatomy of the left triangular ligament and the appendix fibrosa hepatis in human livers, and its implication in abdominal surgery. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci 2014;21:856-63.  https://doi.org/10.1002/jhbp.144
  13. Hayashi S, Murakami G, Ohtsuka A, Itoh M, Nakano T, Fukuzawa Y. Connective tissue configuration in the human liver hilar region with special reference to the liver capsule and vascular sheath. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg 2008;15:640-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00534-008-1336-8