Abstract
Background & Aims. Studies dealing with the architecture of the portal and caval canals of liver have overlooked the probability of the fibrous connections between the major portal complexes and hepatic veins when they touch each other. Such a probability is essential for both theoretical and practical medicine. Methods. We studied macro- and micro-morphological specimens from 104 normal adult and 18 normal embryonic and fetal livers. Results. We found that the fibrous sheathes of the portal complexes and hepatic veins fuse in certain areas where these structures cross each other. This anatomical relationship between the portal tracts and hepatic veins is a normal occurrence in human liver and originates at 11th-12th week of embryogenesis. Conclusions. The paper is an effort to demonstrate anatomical and clinical significance and embryogenesis of the portacaval fibrous connections.
Highlights
There are little known anatomical structures within human liver formed through the confluence of connective tissue sheathes of the portal complexes and of the hepatic veins in some areas where these structures come in contact and cross each other (Fig. 1)
This type of the intrahepatic portacaval fibrous connections (IPCFC) is formed by the complete fusion of connective tissue sheathes of the portal complexes and the hepatic vein, with the surfaces facing each other (Fig. 1, 2), and can be seen in 72.5% of all cases
Like other fascial nodes and fibrous connections in the human body, the IPCFC is an area of confluence of fibrous sheathes of major afferent and efferent bilio-vascular elements of various directions, which connects two well-defined fascial-aponeurotic zones in the anterior abdominal wall and the posterior abdominal wall: the umbilical fibrous node in the anterior abdominal wall and the posterior fascial node of liver
Summary
There are little known anatomical structures within human liver formed through the confluence of connective tissue sheathes of the portal complexes and of the hepatic veins in some areas where these structures come in contact and cross each other (Fig. 1). We suggest the term “portacaval fibrous connections“ for the anatomical structures formed through the confluence of the connective tissue sheathes of the portal complexes and those of the hepatic veins.
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