Paulo Ney Aguiar Martins1, Peter Neuhaus. 1. Department of General-Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Virchow Clinic, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany. pmartins@partners.org
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The rat is the most used experimental model in surgical research. Virtually all procedures in clinical liver surgery can be performed in the rat. However, the use of the rat model in liver surgery is limited by its small size and limited knowledge of the liver anatomy. As in humans, the rat liver vasculature and biliary system have many anatomical variations. The development of surgical techniques, and the study of liver function and diseases require detailed knowledge of the regional anatomy. AIM: The objective of this study was to describe and illustrate systematically the surgical anatomy of the rat liver to facilitate the planning and performance of studies in this animal. Knowledge of the diameter and length of liver vessels is also important for the selection of catheters and perivascular devices. METHODS: Twelve Wistar rat livers were dissected using a surgical microscope. Hepatic and extrahepatic anatomical structures were measured under magnification with a millimeter scale. CONCLUSION: In this study, we describe the rat liver topographical anatomy, compare it with the human liver and review the literature. Increased knowledge of the rat liver anatomy and microsurgical skills permit individualized dissection, parenchymal section, embolization and ligature of vascular and biliary branches.
BACKGROUND: The rat is the most used experimental model in surgical research. Virtually all procedures in clinical liver surgery can be performed in the rat. However, the use of the rat model in liver surgery is limited by its small size and limited knowledge of the liver anatomy. As in humans, the rat liver vasculature and biliary system have many anatomical variations. The development of surgical techniques, and the study of liver function and diseases require detailed knowledge of the regional anatomy. AIM: The objective of this study was to describe and illustrate systematically the surgical anatomy of the rat liver to facilitate the planning and performance of studies in this animal. Knowledge of the diameter and length of liver vessels is also important for the selection of catheters and perivascular devices. METHODS: Twelve Wistar rat livers were dissected using a surgical microscope. Hepatic and extrahepatic anatomical structures were measured under magnification with a millimeter scale. CONCLUSION: In this study, we describe the rat liver topographical anatomy, compare it with the human liver and review the literature. Increased knowledge of the rat liver anatomy and microsurgical skills permit individualized dissection, parenchymal section, embolization and ligature of vascular and biliary branches.
Authors: Geert Peeters; Charlotte Debbaut; Wim Laleman; Diethard Monbaliu; Ingrid Vander Elst; Jan R Detrez; Tim Vandecasteele; Thomas De Schryver; Luc Van Hoorebeke; Kasper Favere; Jonas Verbeke; Patrick Segers; Pieter Cornillie; Winnok H De Vos Journal: J Anat Date: 2016-12-20 Impact factor: 2.610
Authors: Terence P F Gade; Stephen J Hunt; Neil Harrison; Gregory J Nadolski; Charles Weber; Stephen Pickup; Emma E Furth; Mitchell D Schnall; Michael C Soulen; M Celeste Simon Journal: J Vasc Interv Radiol Date: 2015-04-08 Impact factor: 3.464
Authors: Zdeno Pirnik; Jana Bundzikova; Tomas Francisty; Elena Cibulova; Lubica Lackovicova; Boris Mravec; Alexander Kiss Journal: Cell Mol Neurobiol Date: 2009-03-13 Impact factor: 5.046
Authors: Teresa Fiebig; Hanne Boll; Giovanna Figueiredo; Hans Ulrich Kerl; Stefanie Nittka; Christoph Groden; Martin Kramer; Marc A Brockmann Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-02-08 Impact factor: 3.240