The round ligament, (fig. 33, 12) (ligamen turn teres, umbilicale) is a rounded fibrous cord resulting from the obliteration of the um bilical vein of the fmtus. It is contained in the anterior margin of the broad ligament, and may be traced forwards along the lines alba to the umbilicus, and backwards through the notch in the anterior border of the liver and along the longitudinal fissure to the posterior border, where it is connected with the coats of the inferior vena cava.
Turning to the under surface of the liver we " have to examine certain fissures which divide this aspect of the organ into lobes; the fissures are five in number ; the longitudinal, the fis sure for the ductus venosus, the transverse, the fissure for the gall-bladder, and the fissure for the vena cava.
The longitudinal fissure, (fig. 33, 4, 4) (sul cus longitudinalis, umbilicalis, horizontalis) extends, as it name implies, longitudinally across the concave surface of the liver from the notch on the free margin of the organ to its posterior border. At about two-thirds from the anterior border it is met by a short fissure, the transverse, which joins it at right angles. rite longitudinal fissure up to this point is seep and is generally covered in by an arch of variable breadth (pons hepatis, fig. 33, 19) ,vhich connects the adjoining sides of the right Ind left lobes; beyond this point it is shallow and takes the name of fissure for the ductus 'enosus (5) from containing the fibrous cord nto which the ductus venosus is converted fter the cessation of foetal circulation. The ongitudinal fissure marks the division of the fiver upon its under surface into a right and eft lobe, and contains the fibrous cord of the ound ligament, which is the degenerated urn ilical vein of the foetus. Opposite the ,•ernity of the transverse fissure the fibrous ord is often partially dilated and communi Nos.1, 1, the anterior border ; 2, 2, the posterior border ; 3, the notch upon the anterior border ; 4, 4, the longitudinal fissure containing the fibrous cord of the round ligament ; 5, the fissure fur the ductus venosus; 6, the transverse fissure ; 7, the point of union of the three fissures, the longitudinal, the transverse, and that for the ductus venosus ; 9, the portal vein in the transverse fissure, the hepatic artery, and the trunk of the ductus commu nis choledochus ; 11, the cystic duct ; 12, the gall bladder; 13, 13, the inferior vena cava passing through its fissure ; 14, the cord of the ductus venosus, joining the inferior cava as that vessel emerges from the substance of the liver ; 15, part of the oval space on the posterior border of the liver ; 16, the right lobe ; 17, the left lobe ; 18, the lobulus quadratus ; 19, the pons hepatis ; 20, the lobus Spigelii; 21, the lobus caudatus.
cafes with the portal vein. This is an indica tion of the natural inosculation subsisting between these two vessels during intrauterine existence.
The transverse fissure (fig. 33, 6) (sulcus transversus, sulcus venom port) is short and deep and about two inches in length ; it com mences near the middle of the under surface of the right lobe and passes transversely in wards to join the longitudinal fissure. It is the hilus of admission to the vessels of the liver, and gives passage to the hepatic artery, portal vein, and hepatic ducts, as well as to the lymphatics and nerves. The transverse fissure is bounded before and behind by the elevated borders of the lobus quadratus and !obits Spigelii. These lobes were named by the older anatomists the portal eminences, and were con sidered as the pillars which flanked the en trance to this great portal of the liver.
The fissure or rather the .for the gall bladder is the shallow angular depression which lodges the biliary sac. It is broad in front and generally marked by a notch upon the anterior border of the liver, and narrows as it passes backwards. It is situated in the right lobe and runs parallel with the longitudinal fissure, while posteriorly it opens into the commence ment of the transverse fissure.
The fissure for the vena cave (fig. 33) is situated in the same longitudinal line with the preceding, but upon the posterior border of the liver. It commences at the under surface of the organ and terminates upon the upper part of the posterior border at about the middle of the oval space inclosed by the coronary liga ment. This fissure is always very deep and surrounds the vena cava for two-thirds or three fourths of its cylinder. Sometimes it is con verted into a canal by a thin layer which is stretched across it from the lobus Spigelii to the contiguous border of the right lobe. The hepatic veins pour their blood into this portion of the vena cava.