Porta-caval fibrous connections — the lesser-known structure of intrahepatic connective-tissue framework: A unified view of liver extracellular matrix

Figure 1 Connective tissue structures and their relationship in the liver. A: 1: Peritoneum; 2: Liver capsule (Laennec's capsule); 3: Hilar plate (Walaeus vasculo-biliary sheath); 4: Portal tract; 5: Hepatic vein and its tributaries; 6: Connective tissue sheath of a hepatic vein; 7: Portal tract surrounded by Glisson's capsule (Glissonean pedicle); 8: Porta-caval fibrous connection (PCFC); Arrowhead: the fissure among the Laennec's capsule (proper hepatic capsule, PHC) and the Glisson's capsule; B: Intrahepatic portal tracts and hepatic veins of the human liver after maceration from the visceral surface (preparation from the private archive of Professor Chanukvadze I); Intersection of portal tracts and the hepatic veins. Yellow lines show the borders among the liver segments enumeration of which is shown in red quadrats. 1: Portal tract; 2: Hepatic veins and their tributaries; 3: Inferior vena cava; 4: Walaeus vasculo-biliary sheath; 5: Round ligament; 6: Gallbladder; C: Section of liver tissue containing the portal tract and hepatic vein (scheme). White arrowhead: the fissure among the Laennec's capsule (PHC) and the Glisson's capsule; Green arrowhead: the fissure among the Laennec's capsule (PHC) and connective-tissue sheath surrounding the hepatic vein; D: Area of complete fusion of the Glisson's capsule and a connective-tissue sheath surrounding the hepatic vein (scheme); E: Plate-shaped PCFC (scheme).

Figure 2 Porta-caval fibrous connections in humans and animals. A: Plate-shaped porta-caval fibrous connection (PCFC) (histotopogram of liver tissue): 1: Lumen of the portal vein; 2: Lumen of hepatic vein tributary; 3: Bile ducts and biliary glands (filled with Indian ink); 4: Liver parenchyma; Rad arrow: Proper hepatic capsule (PHC); Blue arrow: Perivascular fibrous capsule (Glisson’s capsule); Green arrowhead: Fissure among the PHC and Glisson’s capsule; Yellow arrowhead: Fissure among the PHC and perivenous connective-tissue sheath (preparation from the private archive of Professor Chanukvadze I); B: PCFCs (histotopogram of liver tissue): Large portal tract is surrounded by a yellow ellipse; 1: Lumen of the portal vein; 2: Lumen of hepatic vein tributaries; 3: Small portal tract; 4: Liver parenchyma; 5: Bile ducts (filled with Indian ink); Green arrowhead: The area of complete fusion; Red arrowhead: Thread-shaped PCFC (preparation from the private archive of Professor Ilya Chanukvadze); C: PCFC in rat liver (surrounded by a red ellipse). 1: Lumen of the portal vein; 2: Lumen of a hepatic vein; Red arrow: Bile ductule abutted to hepatic vein connective tissue sheath (preparation from the private archive of Professor Dimitri Kordzaia). Hematoxylin-eosin, Ob × 10, Oc × 10; D: Fragment of Figure C. Hematoxylin-eosin, Ob × 40, Oc × 10. C and D: Citation: Kordzaia D, Jangavadze M. Unknown bile ductuli accompanying hepatic vein tributaries (experimental study). Georgian Med News 2014: 121-129. Copyright ©Georgian Medical News 2014. Published by Georgian Medical News[43].