Liver lobation and intraparenchymal distribution of the portal vein in Brazilian guinea pig (Galea spixii Wagler, 1831)

Abstract

Liver lobation and intraparenchymal distribution of the portal vein was described according to studies performed in 10 specimens of Brazilian guinea pigs. The portal vein was cannulated and perfusedwith a vinyl acetate solution and the liver immersed in sulfuric acid solution to obtain vascular casts. The liver presented five lobes, which were named left lateral, left medial, square, right lateral, right medial, and caudate lobes with caudate and papillary processes. The portal vein, entering the portal fissure, divided into two branches, the right and left ones, as it entered the portal fissure. The right branch emitted isolated or common trunk branches to the right lateral lobe and to the caudate process of caudate lobe. On its turn, the left main branch of portal vein divided into two other branches. One of them formed a common trunk for the left lateral, left medial, and square lobes, being the two last ones in a common way. The second branch coursed towards to the right medial branch. Just after its formation, the common trunk of the left main branch emits small vascular branches to the papillary process of caudate lobe.

Keywords

• Galea spixii
• Liver
• Portal vein
• Rodent