Male Liver Fissure for Ligamentum Venosum

Description

Running on the visceral (inferior) surface of the male liver, the fissure for the ligamentum venosum (fissura ligamenti venosi, sulcus of Arantius) lies in a left sagittal orientation between the left lobe anteriorly and the caudate lobe posteriorly. The ligamentum venosum itself appears as a fibrous cord seated in this groove, coursing superiorly toward the left hepatic vein and the inferior vena cava at the posterior aspect of the liver. Medially, the fissure approaches the porta hepatis and helps frame the posterior boundary of the left sagittal fissure complex. A tight landmark. Recognition of this fissure matters because it is the adult remnant of the embryonic ductus venosus, and it is one of the most dependable surface guides for orienting the caudate lobe during operative and radiologic anatomy. During hepatectomy planning and transplantation, surgeons use the ligamentum venosum as a handle and boundary when mobilizing the left lobe and defining the plane toward the left hepatic vein and retrohepatic IVC. Variants in the depth or continuity of the sulcus can also influence how confidently you separate caudate from left lobe on cross sectional imaging and in the operative field. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and embryology teaching to connect fetal venous shunting (ductus venosus) with adult hepatic landmarks, or in hepatobiliary surgery texts that describe left liver mobilization, caudate lobe orientation, and the porta hepatis region. It also supports radiology modules on hepatic surface anatomy, where the fissure for ligamentum venosum helps anchor segmental discussions on sagittal MR or CT reconstructions. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.