Male Left Liver Medial Division, Posterior View

Description

Posteriorly oriented sectional anatomy of the male liver focuses on the medial division of the left hepatic lobe (segment IV), often termed the quadrate lobe in gross descriptions. The cut plane places this parenchyma immediately anterior to the porta hepatis, where the left portal vein and left hepatic artery course toward their segmental branches, and where the left hepatic duct exits toward the common hepatic duct. Medially, the fissure for the ligamentum teres and the umbilical portion of the left portal vein define the boundary toward the falciform ligament, while inferiorly the visceral surface approaches the gallbladder fossa and the transverse colon impression. Spatial relationships read cleanly from back to front. Segment IV matters because it straddles functional and surgical planes in left-sided hepatectomy and split-liver grafting, and its vascular and biliary pedicles sit close to the hilar plate. Small errors in identifying the medial division can translate into bile leak from segment IV ducts or ischemia when portal inflow is selectively controlled during inflow occlusion (Pringle maneuver) or hilar dissection. A key teaching point. Posterior sectional views also help learners reconcile Couinaud segmentation with what is encountered during operative exposure and on cross-sectional imaging. Use this artwork in hepatobiliary surgery texts, transplant manuals, and anatomy modules that teach the porta hepatis, biliary confluence, and segment-based resection planning. It also supports radiology instruction when correlating posterior sectional anatomy with CT or MRI appearances of the left portal vein, hilar structures, and lesions arising in segment IV near the hilum. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.