Transversal, sagittal and dorsal anatomical MRI study of the rabbit liver

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an applicable method for the contemporary anatomical visualization of small mammals` abdominal organs. The anatomical object studied is separated into voxel units, depending on the magnetic field. The anatomical objects are obtained on thin scan levels. We studied the liver of ten sexually mature, clinically healthy New Zealand white rabbits in T2- and T1-weight­ed sequence. On a transversal plane, T2-weighted sequence, the anatomical boundary between the left and right liver lobes was not defined. The left medial lobe of the liver was hyperintense compared to the left lateral lobe. The gallbladder demonstrated a hypersignal. Medial to the quadrate lobe was the gallbladder. The cystic duct demonstrated hy­persignal to the parenchyma. The right, left medial and left lateral lobes of the liver had dark grey tissue contrast. On sagittal T2 of the abdominal region at the level of the plane, 10 mm to the left, the left medial lobe of the liver was hypointense. Caudal to the left medial lobe was the lateral one. In the sagittal plane, 20 mm to the left, the me­dial and left lateral lobes and papillary process were hyposignal anatomical findings. In the sagittal plane, at 10 mm to the right, the right lobe was cranial to the fundus and body of the stomach. The papillary process touched the fundus of the stomach. The caudate process reached the right adipose capsule of the kidney. In the sagittal plane, 20 mm to the right, the left medial and quadrate lobes were caudal to the right lobe. The caudate lobe was dorsal. In the dorsal plane (T1-weighted sequence), 15 mm ventral to the spine, the right lobe was cranial to the other lobes. Left to the median plane was the left lobe. In the dorsal plane, 30 mm to the spine, the right lobe was cov­ered by the caudate lobe. The left medial lobe covered the left one. In the plane, 45 mm ventral to the spine, the right and left lobes were hyposignal findings in the same anatomical plane.