Left Lobe of the Liver Flashcards

Examine the left hepatic lobe, its anatomical boundaries, functional segments, vascular supply, biliary drainage, and surgical relationships.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the anatomical left lobe of the liver?

The portion of the liver lying to the left of the falciform ligament.

In This Section

1. What is the anatomical left lobe of the liver?

The portion of the liver lying to the left of the falciform ligament.

2. Which ligament separates the anatomical left and right lobes on the diaphragmatic surface?

The falciform ligament.

3. Which fissures mark the anatomical left lobe on the visceral surface?

The fissures for the ligamentum teres and ligamentum venosum.

4. How does the functional left liver differ from the anatomical left lobe?

The functional left liver includes segment IV, which lies to the right of the falciform ligament.

5. Which Couinaud segments form the functional left liver?

Segments II, III, and IV.

6. What is Cantlie's line?

An imaginary line from the gallbladder fossa to the inferior vena cava marking the functional division of the liver.

7. Which hepatic vein approximately marks the functional boundary between the right and left liver?

The middle hepatic vein.

8. Which Couinaud segment forms the superior part of the left lateral section?

Segment II.

9. Which Couinaud segment forms the inferior part of the left lateral section?

Segment III.

10. Which Couinaud segment forms the left medial section?

Segment IV.

11. What are the two subdivisions of Couinaud segment IV?

Segment IVa superiorly and segment IVb inferiorly.

12. Which ligamentous fissure separates the left lateral and medial sections of the liver?

The umbilical fissure containing the ligamentum teres.

13. Which hepatic vein commonly separates segments II and III from segment IV?

The left hepatic vein, approximately.

14. Which organ lies immediately inferior to much of the left hepatic lobe?

The stomach.

15. Which part of the diaphragm is closely related to the superior surface of the left hepatic lobe?

The left hemidiaphragm.

16. Which peritoneal ligament connects the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach?

The hepatogastric ligament.

17. Which artery normally provides the principal arterial supply to the functional left liver?

The left hepatic artery, usually arising from the proper hepatic artery.

18. Which portal venous branch primarily supplies the functional left liver?

The left portal vein.

19. What are the two main anatomical portions of the left portal vein?

The transverse and umbilical portions.

20. Which hepatic vein primarily drains the left lateral section of the liver?

The left hepatic vein.

21. Which hepatic veins commonly receive venous drainage from segment IV?

The middle hepatic vein and, variably, the left hepatic vein.

22. Into which major vessel does the left hepatic vein drain?

The inferior vena cava.

23. Which bile duct primarily drains the functional left liver?

The left hepatic duct.

24. Which segmental bile ducts typically unite to form the left lateral sectoral duct?

The ducts draining segments II and III.

25. What embryological structure forms the ligamentum teres associated with the left liver?

The obliterated left umbilical vein.

26. What is a replaced left hepatic artery?

A variant artery, commonly arising from the left gastric artery, that replaces the usual left hepatic arterial supply.

27. What is a left lateral sectionectomy?

Surgical removal of Couinaud segments II and III.

28. Which segments are typically removed during a standard left hepatectomy?

Segments II, III, and IV.

29. What is a prominent left hepatic lobe extending around the stomach called?

A beaver tail liver, an anatomical variant of the left lobe.

30. Why is segmental anatomy important during left liver resection?

It enables removal of selected hepatic territories while preserving vascular inflow, outflow, and biliary drainage of the remaining liver.