Surgical anatomy of the liver.

Vital intrahepatic structures, especially the large veins, are of special concern to the surgeon. These intrahepatic structures are seldom taught or displayed in anatomy courses, and illustrations are often presented with the posterior surface of the liver facing the viewer, an aspect seldom seen by the surgeon. In this article, the topographical anatomy of the liver is described in a manner most useful to the practicing surgeon. For this purpose, specimens were specifically prepared to demonstrate the vascular anatomy.