[Anastomoses between the segmental arteries of the liver and phrenicohepatic arterio-arterial anastomoses]

Abstract

A corrosion - cast anatomical study was performed on human livers. At first arterio-arterial anastomoses between the inferior phrenic arteries and branches of the main hepatic artery were investigated. Secondly, arterial communications between the right and left hepatic artery are described. 1. The anatomical-functional study of phrenico-hepatic anastomoses gives new detailed information on the arterial blood supply of the liver out of the phrenic arteries. These collaterals are a consistent finding. By far the largest part of the phrenicohepatic anastomoses is derived from the right inferior phrenic artery. The superior and posterior segments receive most of the anastomoses. In about 10% of our cases we succeeded in filling almost the whole arterial system of the liver by injecting the inferior phrenic arteries. 2. There are three anastomotic pathways from the right hepatic artery to the left: the so-called portal anastomoses (hilar anastomoses), translobar vessels, and the capsular arteries.