Original Contribution ANATOMICAL MACROMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE LIVER IN DOMESTIC RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS)

AIM: To determine some macromorphological characteristics of the normal liver in rabbits. MATERIALS: We studied 12 mature, clinically healthy, euthanized rabbits, 8 months of age from New Zealand White breed and weighed between 2.8kg and 3.2kg. METHODS: Following laparotomy and extirpation of the rabbit liver we studied its topography and linear parameters. The results were collected and recorded. The obtained data was processed via variable statistical methods. RESULTS: The rabbit liver was situated in the epigastric region, between both costal arches. The caudate process touched the right kidney. The rabbit liver was caudally situated to the diaphragm and extended to the left and right abdominal walls. The left medial and lateral hepatic lobes were parallel to the right one. The quadrate lobe was too small. The gall bladder was cylindrical and didn’t reach the ventral edge of the organ. The morphometric investigation showed that the left hepatic lobe was longer and bigger than the right one. The smallest structure in length and height was quadrate lobe. The gall bladder’s three parts were with different sizes. CONCLUSION: The rabbit liver was lobated organ, composed of five lobes. The left hepatic lobe with its medial and lateral parts is with the biggest extent in the organ, while the quadrate lobe is the smallest.