Gross Anatomy of the Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder

A collection of flashcards covering the gross anatomy, blood supply, biliary tree, and clinical correlates of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

What are the three accessory digestive organs found in the abdominal cavity?

Liver, Gallbladder, and Pancreas.

What is the approximate weight of the liver in an adult?

About $1.5\,kg$.

Where is the liver located in the abdomen?

Immediately beneath the diaphragm in the right upper (RU) quadrant.

Which recesses separate the diaphragmatic surface of the liver from the diaphragm?

Subphrenic recesses.

Which ligament separates the subphrenic recesses into left and right?

The Falciform ligament.

What demarcates the bare area of the liver?

The reflections of the upper and lower layers of the coronary ligament.

Between which two structures is the hepatorenal recess located?

Between the right kidney and the right lobe of the liver.

Why are the caudate and quadrate lobes functionally considered part of the left lobe?

They are supplied by the left hepatic artery, the left branch of the portal vein, and deliver bile to the left hepatic duct.

Between which structures is the caudate lobe anatomically located?

Between the inferior vena cava and the fissure for the ligamentum venosum.

Between which structures is the quadrate lobe anatomically located?

Between the gallbladder fossa and the ligamentum teres.

The ligamentum teres is a remnant of which fetal structure?

The umbilical vein.

What is the clinical term for the dilation of periumbilical veins in portal hypertension?

Caput Medusae.

Which structures pass through the porta hepatis?

Hepatic artery, portal vein, hepatic ducts, lymphatics, and nerves.

What are the boundaries of the epiploic foramen?

Anterior: hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct; Posterior: inferior vena cava.

What is the percentage distribution of blood supply to the liver?

Hepatic artery: $30\%$ (oxygenated blood from aorta); Portal vein: $70\%$ (poorly oxygenated blood from GIT).

What is the typical length and shape of the gallbladder?

$7-10\,cm$ long and pear-shaped.

What is the anatomical location of the gallbladder fundus?

At the tip of the right 9th costal cartilage (Murphy’s Point).

What is the name of the valve located in the neck of the gallbladder?

The spiral valve.

Which artery supplies the gallbladder?

The cystic artery, which is a branch of the right hepatic artery.

Describe the formation of the bile duct.

The common hepatic duct joins with the cystic duct.

Which sphincter is specifically associated with the common bile duct?

The sphincter of Boyden.

Which sphincter is associated with the hepatopancreatic ampulla (of Vater)?

The sphincter of Oddi.

What are the endocrine products of the pancreas?

Glucagon and insulin.

To which structure is the tip of the pancreatic tail related?

The hilum of the spleen.

The main pancreatic duct of Wirsung unites with the bile duct to form what structure?

The hepatopancreatic ampulla (of Vater).

Where is the needle inserted for a liver biopsy?

Through the right 8th or 9th intercostal space in the midaxillary line.

Where is pain from the pancreas commonly referred?

To the back.

What is cholecystitis?

Inflammation of the gallbladder, often due to cystic duct blockage by gallstones.