Normal Anatomy

Hepatic artery, left

branch of the proper hepatic artery. Enters the liver at the porta hepatis inferior to the left portal vein and then courses upwards in the fossa for the ligamentum venosum where it divides to supply the lateral segments of the left lobe of the liver. May contribute a supply to the quadrate lobe and less commonly the caudate lobe. Anatomical variation is common: in approximately 25% of persons all (replaced) or part (accessory) of the left hepatic arterial supply arises in equal proportions from the left gastric artery. A typical "hairpin" configuration of the left hepatic artery is seen in this situation. May uncommonly give rise to the cystic artery. See blood vessels, liver and spleen (II), Fig. 1, blood vessels, liver and spleen (II), Fig. 2, blood vessels, liver and spleen (II), Fig. 5

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