Superior surface of liver

Facies superior hepatis

  • Latin synonym: Pars superior faciei diaphragmaticae hepatis
  • Synonym: Superior part of diaphragmatic surface of liver
  • Related terms: Superior part; Liver (Superior part); Diaphragmatic surface - Superior part

Definition

The superior part of diaphragmatic surface comprises a part of both lobes, and, as a whole, is convex, and fits under the vault of the diaphragm which in front separates it on the right from the sixth to the tenth ribs and their cartilages, and on the left from the seventh and eighth costal cartilages.

Its middle part (the anterior part of diaphragmatic surface) lies behind the xiphoid process, and, in the angle between the diverging rib cartilage of opposite sides, is in contact with the abdominal wall.

Behind this the diaphragm separates the liver from the lower part of the lungs and pleuræ, the heart and pericardium and (on the right part of diaphragmatic surface) the right costal arches from the seventh to the eleventh inclusive. It is completely covered by peritoneum except along the line of attachment of the falciform ligament.

The cardiac impression is a depression that lies below the the attachment surface of diaphragm and pericardium, extending into the area nuda and bounded by the inferior vena cava.

This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).

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