Ultrasonic anatomy of hepatic veins

Whereas the portal veins and hepatic arteries supply the right and left lobes of the liver, the hepatic veins pass along the boundaries between the lobes and segments. Their positions can therefore be used to identify liver segments and allow a precise description of the position of focal lesions. In 104 subjects without liver pathology, the hepatic veins were demonstrated in 101 and followed the classical pattern in 87. Absent and accessory veins were encountered.