Rabbit Liver Lobes: An Anatomical Study of Experimental Surgical Approaches

A number of animal models have been developed for experimental liver surgery protocols such as lobectomy, ischemia and reperfusion studies, organ injuries, and drug trials. Though, some morphometric studies describe the liver lobes in rats and mice, such anatomical information is not sufficiently available in rabbits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomical approaches for experimental liver resection in the rabbit, and to examine the proportional distribution of each lobe conforming to the whole organ, and to schematize the macroanatomical properties of each lobe.For this purpose, the liver lobes were dissected according to anatomical references. The volumes and weights of the whole organ and the individual lobes were measured. The percentages of the liver lobes were calculated according to the weight and volume of the total liver.The interlobar notch, especially between the medial and lateral parts of the left lobe was more prominent than that between the quadrate and the right lobe. The proportion of the left lateral and medial lobe was 27%, and 24% relative to the total liver weight, similarly, the right lobe, quadrate lobe and the caudate lobe was 19%, 7% and 23%, respectively. The volumetric ratios of liver lobes were also found close to the mass ratios.In conclusion, anatomical information from this study can be used as a reference in performing various experimental surgical studies on the rabbit liver.