Surgical anatomy of the liver, hepatic vasculature and bile ducts in the rat.
BACKGROUND
The rat is the most used experimental model in surgical research. Virtually all procedures in clinical liver surgery can be performed in the rat. However, the use of the rat model in liver surgery is limited by its small size and limited knowledge of the liver anatomy. As in humans, the rat liver vasculature and biliary system have many anatomical variations. The development of surgical techniques, and the study of liver function and diseases require detailed knowledge of the regional anatomy.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to describe and illustrate systematically the surgical anatomy of the rat liver to facilitate the planning and performance of studies in this animal. Knowledge of the diameter and length of liver vessels is also important for the selection of catheters and perivascular devices.


METHODS
Twelve Wistar rat livers were dissected using a surgical microscope. Hepatic and extrahepatic anatomical structures were measured under magnification with a millimeter scale.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we describe the rat liver topographical anatomy, compare it with the human liver and review the literature. Increased knowledge of the rat liver anatomy and microsurgical skills permit individualized dissection, parenchymal section, embolization and ligature of vascular and biliary branches.
Martins
Paulo Ney Aguiar
PN
Department of General-Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Virchow Clinic, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany. pmartins@partners.org
Neuhaus
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000033:anatomy & histology*