Anomalous Morphology of Liver and Rare Variation of Ligamentum Teres

Abstract

Hypoplasia, absence or accessory lobes are common variations in liver. Anatomically liver is divided into right and left lobes by falciform ligament, fissure for ligamentum teres and fissure for ligamentum venosum. Ligament of teres is present in the free margin of falciform ligament and winds round the inferior border of liver to reach the fissure for ligamentum teres. During routine dissection of abdomen of a 75-year-old female cadaver fixed in 10% formalin, abnormal disposition of ligamentum teres together with variant morphology of liver on its anterior surface consisting of a curved depression and an elongated gap was observed. Ligamentum teres was attached to superior margin of curved depression 6 cm above the inferior margin of liver. It passed through elongated gap situated 2.5 cm above inferior border of liver. The fissure for ligamentum teres and quadrate lobe was normally present. There was no other abnormality in the liver. The depression and gap found on the anterior surface of liver may give false impression of abnormal cavity to a surgeon during laproscopic liver surgery and also it may lead to misinterpretation of radiographs. Though ligamentum teres is described to be less important yet its variant dispostion is important in various therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.

Keywords

• accessory lobe
• falciform ligament
• laproscopic surgery