| Coronary ligament | |
|---|---|
 Posterior and inferior surfaces of the liver. (Coronary ligament labeled at center right.) | |
 Vertical disposition of the peritoneum. Main cavity, red; omental bursa, blue. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | ligamentum coronarium hepatis |
| TA98 | A10.1.02.302 |
| TA2 | 3772 |
| FMA | 15822 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The coronary ligament of the liver refers to parts of the peritoneal reflections[ clarification needed ] that hold the liver to the inferior surface of the diaphragm.
The convex diaphragmatic surface of the liver (anterior, superior and a little posterior) is connected to the concavity of the inferior surface of the diaphragm by reflections of peritoneum. The coronary ligament is the largest of these, having an anterior (frontal) and posterior (back) layers.
The diaphragmatic surface of the liver that is in direct contact with the diaphragm (just beyond the peritoneal reflections) has no peritoneal covering, and is termed the bare area of the liver.
The anterior layer of the coronary ligament is formed by the reflection[ clarification needed ] of the peritoneum from the upper margin of the bare area of the liver to the under surface of the diaphragm.
The posterior layer of the coronary ligament is reflected[ clarification needed ] from the lower margin of the bare area and is continuous with the right layer of the lesser omentum.
The anterior and posterior layers converge on the right and left sides of the liver to form the right triangular ligament and the left triangular ligament, respectively. In between the two sides of the anterior layer, the reflection of peritoneum has an inferior continuation termed the falciform ligament. The falciform ligament contains the round ligament of liver.
The thoracic diaphragm, or simply the diaphragm, is a sheet of internal skeletal muscle in humans and other mammals that extends across the bottom of the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity, containing the heart and lungs, from the abdominal cavity and performs an important function in respiration: as the diaphragm contracts, the volume of the thoracic cavity increases, creating a negative pressure there, which draws air into the lungs.
The mesentery is an organ that attaches the intestines to the posterior abdominal wall in humans and is formed by the double fold of peritoneum. It helps in storing fat and allowing blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves to supply the intestines, among other functions.
The lesser omentum is the double layer of peritoneum that extends from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach, and to the first part of the duodenum. The lesser omentum is usually divided into these two connecting parts: the hepatogastric ligament, and the hepatoduodenal ligament.
The abdomen is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the trunk. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal cavity. In arthropods it is the posterior tagma of the body; it follows the thorax or cephalothorax.
The ischium forms the lower and back part of the hip bone.
The sacrotuberous ligament is situated at the lower and back part of the pelvis. It is flat, and triangular in form; narrower in the middle than at the ends.
The falciform ligament is a ligament that attaches the liver to the front body wall, and separates the liver into the left medial lobe and right lateral lobe. The falciform ligament, from Latin 'sickle-shaped', is a broad and thin fold of peritoneum, its base being directed downward and backward and its apex upward and forward. The falciform ligament droops down from the hilum of the liver.
The transversalis fascia is a thin aponeurotic membrane which lies between the inner surface of the transverse abdominal muscle and the parietal peritoneum.
The greater omentum is a large apron-like fold of visceral peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach. It extends from the greater curvature of the stomach, passing in front of the small intestines and doubles back to ascend to the transverse colon before reaching to the posterior abdominal wall. The greater omentum is larger than the lesser omentum, which hangs down from the liver to the lesser curvature. The common anatomical term "epiploic" derives from "epiploon", from the Greek epipleein, meaning to float or sail on, since the greater omentum appears to float on the surface of the intestines. It is the first structure observed when the abdominal cavity is opened anteriorly.
The root of the lung is a group of structures that emerge at the hilum of each lung, just above the middle of the mediastinal surface and behind the cardiac impression of the lung. It is nearer to the back than the front. The root of the lung is connected by the structures that form it to the heart and the trachea. The rib cage is separated from the lung by a two-layered membranous coating, the pleura. The hilum is the large triangular depression where the connection between the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura is made, and this marks the meeting point between the mediastinum and the pleural cavities.
The bare area of the liver is a large triangular area on the diaphragmatic surface of the liver, devoid of peritoneal covering. It is attached directly to the diaphragm by loose connective tissue.
The left triangular ligament is a large peritoneal fold. It connects the posterior part of the upper surface of the left lobe of the liver to the thoracic diaphragm.
The right triangular ligament is situated at the right extremity of the bare area, and is a small fold which passes to the diaphragm, being formed by the apposition of the upper and lower layers of the coronary ligament.
The pelvic fasciae are the fascia of the pelvis and can be divided into:
A portocaval anastomosis is a specific type of anastomosis that occurs between the veins of the portal circulation and those of the systemic circulation. The inferior end of the esophagus and the superior part of the rectum are potential sites of a harmful portacaval anastomosis.
The hepatorenal ligament is the fold of peritoneum that extends from the lower posterior surface of the liver to the anterior surface of the right kidney. It forms forms the right margin of the lesser sac.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:
In human anatomy, the omental foramen, is the passage of communication, or foramen, between the greater sac, and the lesser sac.
The superior diaphragmatic lymph nodes lie on the thoracic aspect of the diaphragm, and consist of three sets – anterior, middle, and posterior.
The human liver is divided grossly into four parts or lobes. The four lobes are the right lobe, the left lobe, the caudate lobe, and the quadrate lobe. Seen from the front – the diaphragmatic surface - the liver is divided into two lobes: the right lobe and the left lobe. Viewed from the underside – the visceral surface, the other two smaller lobes the caudate lobe, and the quadrate lobe are also visible. The two smaller lobes, the caudate lobe and the quadrate lobe, are known as superficial or accessory lobes, and both are located on the underside of the right lobe.
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1192 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
