title: Developmental anatomy of the liver from computerized three-dimensional reconstructions of four human embryos (from Carnegie stage 14 to 23).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some aspects of human embryogenesis and organogenesis remain unclear, especially concerning the development of the liver and its vasculature. The purpose of this study was to investigate, from a descriptive standpoint, the evolutionary morphogenesis of the human liver and its vasculature by computerized three-dimensional reconstructions of human embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial histological sections of four human embryos at successive stages of development belonging to three prestigious French historical collections were digitized and reconstructed in 3D using software commonly used in medical radiology. Manual segmentation of the hepatic anatomical regions of interest was performed section by section.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, human liver organogenesis was examined at Carnegie stages 14, 18, 21 and 23. Using a descriptive and an analytical method, we showed that these stages correspond to the implementation of the large hepatic vascular patterns (the portal system, the hepatic artery and the hepatic venous system) and the biliary system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, our work is the first descriptive morphological study using 3D computerized reconstructions from serial histological sections of the embryonic development of the human liver between Carnegie stages 14 and 23.
authors: Department of Anatomy, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France; Department of General, Digestive and Endocrine Surgery, Hôpital Robert Debré, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France. Electronic address: martin.lhuaire@etudiant.univ-reims.fr.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Lhuaire
authors: Department of Anatomy, Faculté de Médecine de Nancy, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France; INSERM U947, Imagerie Adaptative Diagnostique et Interventionnelle (IADI), CHU de Nancy Brabois, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
authors: Romain
authors: R
authors: Tonnelet
authors: Department of Anatomy, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France; Department of General, Digestive and Endocrine Surgery, Hôpital Robert Debré, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France.
authors: Yohann
authors: Y
authors: Renard
authors: Department of General, Digestive and Endocrine Surgery, Hôpital Robert Debré, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France.
authors: Tullio
authors: T
authors: Piardi
authors: Department of General, Digestive and Endocrine Surgery, Hôpital Robert Debré, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France.
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Sommacale
authors: Department of Anatomy, Faculté de Médecine de Rouen, Université de Rouen, Rouen, France.
authors: Fabrice
authors: F
authors: Duparc
authors: Department of Anatomy, Faculté de Médecine de Nancy, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France; INSERM U947, Imagerie Adaptative Diagnostique et Interventionnelle (IADI), CHU de Nancy Brabois, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Braun
authors: Department of Anatomy, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France; INSERM U947, Imagerie Adaptative Diagnostique et Interventionnelle (IADI), CHU de Nancy Brabois, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Labrousse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology*; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D011168:Portal System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012984:Software
keywords: 3D reconstruction; Biliary tract; Hepatic venous system; Human embryology; Liver; Organogenesis; Portal system