caudate lobe of liver

couinaud hepatic segment I

The caudate lobe (posterior hepatic segment I, Spigelian lobe) is situated upon the postero-superior surface of the liver on the right lobe of the liver, opposite the tenth and eleventh thoracic vertebrae. It is bounded on the left side by the physiological division of the liver called the ligamentum venosum. It is bounded, below, by the porta; on the right, by the fossa for the inferior vena cava; and, on the left, by the fossa for the ductus venosus. It looks backward, being nearly vertical in position; it is longer from above downward than from side to side, and is somewhat concave in the transverse direction. The caudate process is a small elevation of the hepatic substance extending obliquely and laterally, from the lower extremity of the caudate lobe to the under surface of the right lobe. It is situated behind the porta, and separates the fossa for the gall-bladder from the commencement of the fossa for the inferior vena cava. Budd-Chiari syndrome, caused by occlusion of hepatic venous outflow, can lead to hypertrophy of the caudate lobe due to its own caval anastomosis that allows for continued function of this lobe of the liver. [WP,unvetted].

Type Bone
Latin Name couinaud hepatic segment I
FMA ID 13365

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the caudate lobe of the liver?
The caudate lobe (segment I, or Spigelian lobe) is a small, distinctive posterior segment of the liver located on its postero-superior surface, between the ligamentum venosum (anteriorly) and the groove for the inferior vena cava (posteriorly).
What is the surgical significance of the caudate lobe?
The caudate lobe has unique surgical importance because it receives blood supply directly from both right and left portal veins and hepatic arteries, and it drains directly into the inferior vena cava via short hepatic veins, making it functionally independent.
What are the boundaries of the caudate lobe?
The caudate lobe is bounded anteriorly by the fissure for the ligamentum venosum, posteriorly by the groove for the inferior vena cava, and laterally on each side by the right and left liver lobes.
How is the caudate lobe classified in the Couinaud segmentation of the liver?
In Couinaud's functional segmentation, the caudate lobe corresponds to segment I. Unlike other segments, segment I has its own independent vascular supply and direct venous drainage into the inferior vena cava.
What is the clinical importance of the caudate lobe in Budd-Chiari syndrome?
In Budd-Chiari syndrome (hepatic vein thrombosis), the caudate lobe frequently hypertrophies because its hepatic veins drain directly into the inferior vena cava rather than through the obstructed hepatic veins, allowing it to maintain outflow.

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Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.