title: Ultrasonographic characterization of the liver, caudal vena cava, portal vein, and gallbladder in goats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the localization, visible extent (ie, measurement of selected dimensions), and appearance of the liver, caudal vena cava, portal vein, and gallbladder during ultrasonography in healthy goats.
  
  
  METHODS
  27 female Saanen goats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5.0-MHz linear transducer was used to ultrasonographically examine the localization, visible extent of various dimensions, and appearance of the liver, caudal vena cava, portal vein, and gallbladder from the right side of each goat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Images of the liver were obtained in all goats. The dorsal margin of the liver extended in a cranioventral to caudodorsal direction parallel to the caudal margin of the lungs. The greatest visible extent of the liver was evident at the seventh and eighth intercostal spaces (mean value, 15.9 cm), and width was evident at the 10th intercostal space (mean value, 5.2 cm). The caudal vena cava had a triangular shape on cross section; the maximum width in cross section, circumference, and surface area ranged from 1.2 to 1.8 cm, 4.8 to 5.2 cm, and 0.8 to 1.1 cm², respectively. The portal vein was round on cross section (diameter, 0.8 to 1.7 cm) with stellate ramifications into the liver parenchyma. The gallbladder was pear-shaped and variable in size; it extended beyond the ventral margin of the liver to a variable degree depending on the amount of bile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results provided information regarding the ultrasonographic appearance of the liver, caudal vena cava, portal vein, and gallbladder in healthy goats; these data may be useful during examination of goats with suspected liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. ubraun@vetclinics.uzh.ch
authors.forename: Ueli
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steininger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006041:Goats / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000662:veterinary; D014684:Venae Cavae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*