Left Hepatic Artery, Superior View

Description

Superiorly oriented anatomy frames the proximal left hepatic artery as it courses within the hepatoduodenal ligament toward the porta hepatis, typically arising from the proper hepatic artery after the common hepatic artery gives off the gastroduodenal artery. Medial to the left hepatic artery, the common hepatic duct and left hepatic duct lie in close proximity, while the portal vein sits posterior in the classic portal triad arrangement. As the vessel ascends, segmental and subsegmental branches fan into the left lobe, running alongside portal venous and biliary radicals at the periphery of the portal tracts. Spatial relationships matter here. For hepatobiliary surgery, this top-down perspective clarifies where the left hepatic artery is encountered during hilar dissection and during inflow control for left hepatectomy or living donor procurement. Variant anatomy is common, including a replaced or accessory left hepatic artery originating from the left gastric artery and traveling in the lesser omentum before entering the liver, a pattern that can be injured during lymphadenectomy or gastric surgery. Interventional planning also depends on these trajectories, since selective catheterization for hepatic arterial infusion or embolization often requires anticipating branch angles at the hilum. Use this artwork in gross anatomy teaching of the portal triad, in surgical atlases covering hepatoduodenal ligament dissection and Pringle maneuver landmarks, or in radiology and IR materials correlating angiographic projections with intrahepatic branching patterns. It also fits liver transplant and oncology publications where arterial variants and segmental perfusion need clear communication. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.