title: Persistent left hepatic venous connection with the right atrium and the ductus venosus.
abstract: An anomalous left hepatic vein opening independently of the coronary sinus into the right atrium was found in the cadaver of an 88-year-old Japanese man. This vein originated from the left lobe of the liver, perforated the diaphragm at the left side of the vena caval foramen and opened into the right atrium. The left hepatic vein anastomosed mutually with the middle hepatic vein at the level of venule. The ligamentum venosum originated from the left branch of the portal vein and was connected directly to the left hepatic vein. The development of the central systemic venous system and a possible explanation for the morphogenesis of this anomaly were reviewed. As a result, the occurrence of this anomalous vein was explained as being due to the persistence of the left vitelline connection with the left sinus horn and the ductus venosus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Anatomy, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan. aaa@nmu-gw.naramed-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Cho
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tohno
authors.forename: Setsuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tohno
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moriwake
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Utsumi
authors.forename: Masaoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018376:Cardiovascular Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities*