Abstract Introduction: Liver is the large abdominal viscera occupying a substantial portion of the abdominal cavity. Size of the liver varies according to age, sex, & body size. The gross anatomical appearance of liver is divided into right, left, caudate & quadrate lobes by the surface, peritoneal & ligamentous attachments. The most widely accepted classification of liver is done by Couinaud (1957) & Healy & Schroy (1953) who divided liver into eight functional segments. A sound knowledge of normal & variant liver anatomy is a prerequisite to have a favorable surgical outcome. In the era of imaging & minimally invasive approaches, it is imperative to have a thorough knowledge of anatomy & normally occurring variations of this organ. Material & Methods: In the present study, we studied 50 embalmed human livers removed from adult human cadavers. Various shapes of right, left, caudate & quadrate lobes were observed. The presence of accessory fissures, lobes, pons hepatis & any other variation were noted. We also studied variations of liver according to Netter’s classification. Results and Discussion: Out of the 50 specimens, 23 livers (46%) were normal i.e.without any accessory fissures and accessory lobes. Remaining 27 livers (54%) showed presence of accessory fissures and accessory lobes. Accessory fissures are most commonly observed on the inferior surface of right lobe & on the quadrate lobe. With advances in liver surgery like laparoscopic hepatectomy and laparoscopic thermal ablation for patients with hepatic tumor, these variations assume more importance. Conclusion: The findings of our study may be helpful to the radiologists & surgeons to avoid possible errors in the diagnosis and to assist in planning appropriate surgical approach.
Keywords: Liver; Caudate Lobe; Quadrate Lobe; Segment; Accessory Fissures; Pons Hepatis.