Anatomic.us > Digestive System > Pancreas

Falciform Ligament

The falciform ligament provides an attachment to the liver with the anterior abdominal wall. It is a fold of the peritoneum (internal lining of abdominal cavity). The Latin meaning of the word falciform is “sickle shaped.”

read more

Anterior

Terms

appstore kücük

Falciform Ligament


DEVELOPMENT

The falciform ligament is a remnant of the umbilical vein, which is a structure of the developing baby in the womb during pregnancy. After birth the umbilical vein shrinks and takes the form of the falciform ligament. The umbilical vein and hence the falciform ligament is a derivative of ventral mesentery of the embryo.

 

ANATOMICAL FEATURES

The two layers of the ligament travel from the posterior surface of the anterior abdominal wall and the diaphragm to the anterior and upper surfaces of the liver. The apex of the falciform ligament is present upwards and the base is directed downwards. The falciform ligament is seen to be hanging down at the hilum of the liver. This free portion of the ligament has ligamentum teres (round ligament) and paraumbilical veins enclosed in it.

 

LOCATION

It is present in an antero-posterior plane, with one end straight forwards and the other straight behind. It is however a little oblique in its course with its upper end a little to the right (behind right rectus and diaphragm) and the lower end a little to the left (left lobe of the liver).

 

ATTACHMENTS

On the anterior abdominal wall it is attached to the lower surface of the diaphragm and the posterior surface of the right rectus abdominis muscle as far down as the umbilicus. The attachment on the liver extends from the notch at the anterior margin to the posterior surface of liver.

 

CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The falciform ligament is just an attachment in normal healthy individuals, but in some abnormal situations it may cause problems. In those suffering from portal hypertension (high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the liver), the falciform ligament sometimes get canalized. Due to the pooling of this venous blood (venous congestion), the blood is pushed to the anterior abdominal wall from the liver. This results in the formation of bruises around the umbilicus.



DEVELOPMENT

The falciform ligament is a remnant of the umbilical vein, which is a structure of the developing baby in the womb during pregnancy. After birth the umbilical vein shrinks and takes the form of the falciform ligament. The umbilical vein and hence the falciform ligament is a derivative of ventral mesentery of the embryo.

 

ANATOMICAL FEATURES

The two layers of the ligament travel from the posterior surface of the anterior abdominal wall and the diaphragm to the anterior and upper surfaces of the liver. The apex of the falciform ligament is present upwards and the base is directed downwards. The falciform ligament is seen to be hanging down at the hilum of the liver. This free portion of the ligament has ligamentum teres (round ligament) and paraumbilical veins enclosed in it.

 

LOCATION

It is present in an antero-posterior plane, with one end straight forwards and the other straight behind. It is however a little oblique in its course with its upper end a little to the right (behind right rectus and diaphragm) and the lower end a little to the left (left lobe of the liver).

 

ATTACHMENTS

On the anterior abdominal wall it is attached to the lower surface of the diaphragm and the posterior surface of the right rectus abdominis muscle as far down as the umbilicus. The attachment on the liver extends from the notch at the anterior margin to the posterior surface of liver.

 

CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The falciform ligament is just an attachment in normal healthy individuals, but in some abnormal situations it may cause problems. In those suffering from portal hypertension (high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the liver), the falciform ligament sometimes get canalized. Due to the pooling of this venous blood (venous congestion), the blood is pushed to the anterior abdominal wall from the liver. This results in the formation of bruises around the umbilicus.

Report Error

Report ErrorClose