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Gross Anatomy of the Liver

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The liver, the largest gland within the human body, is a firm and reddish-brown organ. This wedge-shaped structure weighs approximately 1.5 kg and occupies a significant portion of the right hypochondriac and epigastric regions. It extends more to the right of the body's midline than to the left.
Located under the diaphragm, the liver is almost entirely ensconced within the rib cage, providing it with substantial protection. Except for the superior most bare area, the liver's surface is covered...

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Application of the En Bloc Concept Combined with Anatomic Resection in Laparoscopic Hepatectomy

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Ectopic liver masquerading as a floating intracaval mass.

Michael Wyatt Morris¹, Thomas S Helling, Lawrence L Creswell

¹Department of Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. mmorrisjr@umc.edu

Journal of Vascular Surgery

|February 25, 2012

Summary

Ectopic liver, a rare anomaly, involves liver tissue outside the main liver. This unique case details ectopic liver tissue found floating in the suprahepatic inferior vena cava via a thin stalk.

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Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Gastroenterology
Surgical pathology

Background:

Ectopic liver is liver tissue found outside the anatomical boundaries of the liver, with no connection to the native liver.
This rare congenital anomaly typically presents as an attachment to the gallbladder, occurring in less than 0.3% of cases.
While often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally, ectopic liver can lead to complications such as visceral or vascular obstruction.

Observation:

A unique instance of ectopic liver was identified.
The ectopic liver tissue was attached by a slender stalk.
It appeared to be suspended within the suprahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava.

Findings:

The ectopic liver demonstrated normal hepatic parenchyma despite its anomalous location.
Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of liver tissue separate from the native liver.
The vascular and biliary connections, if any, were not clearly defined in the initial observation.

Implications:

This case expands the known anatomical variations and locations for ectopic liver.
Understanding such anomalies is crucial for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning.
Further investigation into the embryological origin and potential complications of ectopic liver in unusual locations is warranted.