Anatomic Observation Of Blood-vessels Of Fetal Liver

Objective: To dissect and observe the portal vein, umbilical vein, ductus venosus and the structure of fetal hepatic veins at the secondary porta and the third porta of fetal livers, in order to provide the anatomic data for auxiliary fetal liver transplantation. Method: Fifty two cases of fetal livers about 7～10 months were choosen, and theportal vein, umbilical vein and ductus venosus were dissected, observed and measured. The diameter of the left, middle and right hepatic veins joining the inferior vena cava were measured. The number of branches of them were recorded either. Results: The length of portal vein, umbilical vein and ductus venosus were 32.2±9.2mm,19.6±2.9mm,11.5±3.2mm respectively; and their diameter were 3.5±1.4mm,3.0±0.4mrcu 4.0±1.3mm. The pressed diameter of the left, middle and right hepatic veins were respectively 0.34±0.16cm, 0.38±0.21 cm and 0.33±0.18cm. The number of branches of them were 1.63±0.73, 1.93±0.79 and 1.66±0.73; The pressed diameter of inferior vena cava above and below liver were separately 0.95±0.32 cm and 0.52±0.20cm. The proportion of the latter to the former was 0.57±0.14. Conclusion: The blood supply of fetal liver is rich.Among the blood-vessels of liver ,the diameter of umbilical vein is the largest ,the portal vein is the second and the proper hepatic artery is the smallest .There was an anastomosis among umbilical vein,portal vein and ductus venosus and the left portal vein enter the portal sinus.The posterior of it connected with the ductus venosus and the left portal vein.The blood of umbilical vein and left portal vein flowed into the portal sinus.The ductus venosus and the small branches of portal sinus drained away the blood of portal sinus,separately reaching the inferior vena cava and the hepatic sinusoid.The umbilical vein can take the place of portal vein, and portal vein can replace proper hepatic artery during auxiliary fetal liver transplantation.In order to provide with enough blood supply for liver, the ductus venosus must be ligated before transplantation.The diameter of fetal hepatic veins is thinner than that of adult .The middle hepatic vein is the thickest .The left hepatic vein is the second ,and the right hepatic vein is the thinnest .The number of branches of the left and right hepatic veins in most proporation is one.That of the middle hepatic vein is two.There is much diversity in the diameter of inferior vena cava above and below fetal liver.