Cow liver anatomy

Cow liver anatomy consists of its location, lobes, surfaces, borders, and other associated features. It is the largest compound tubular gland and considered as the accessory organ of the cow’s digestive system.

Here, I will describe all the anatomical features of the cow’s liver with hand-drawing diagrams and real labeled pictures.

Quick answer: Cow liver anatomy describes its 4 lobes, 2 surfaces, 4 borders, location and its attachment to the abdominal cavity.  

However, I will also describe the other structures from the cow’s liver, like the vessels and ducts.

Cow liver anatomy

Figure 1 shows the hand-drawing diagram on the right lateral view of the cow’s abdomen. It presents the obliquely directed organ called the liver.

However, the figure expresses a define extension of the liver with different attachments to the abdomen. Thus, first you might mention its location along with some of the general features.

Where is the cow’s liver located?

The cow’s liver is located on the right side of the abdominal cavity. Its long axis is directed in an oblique downward and forward direction. Thus, its long axis lies almost entirely to the right of the median plane of the body.

However, the cow’s liver extends from the lumbocostal angle to the level of eight ribs. It is strongly curved and is accurately adapted to the abdominal face of the cow’s diaphragm.

The cow’s liver is red-brown in color, and weight is range from 4 to 5 kilograms (kg).

What features should you describe in a cow’s liver?

Figure 2 shows that the cow’s liver is kept attached to the abdomen with 5 or 6 ligaments. But I will enlist and describe these ligaments after identifying the lobes, surfaces, and borders of the liver.

If you identify the lobes, surfaces, and borders of the cow’s liver, you will easily understand the extension of these ligaments. Thus, it is better to learn the cow liver’s ligaments later.

Figure 3 shows the different lobes, surfaces, and borders of the cow liver.

Here, the visceral surfaces of the liver attaches with the parietal surface of the viscera. However, the opposite or external side is termed the parietal surface. As this is moulded with the abdominal part of the diaphragm, it is also known as the diaphragmatic surface.

However, the figure expresses 4 lobes and 4 borders of the cow’s liver. These lobes and borders are named according to their position.

Thus, from the cow’s liver you might describe the followings –

• Location of the cow’s liver (Figures 1 and 2)
• Surfaces of the liver,
• Borders of the cow’s liver,
• Lobes of the liver,
• Attachments of the liver, and
• Other structures: vessels and ducts of the liver

I will help you to learn the above-mentioned features clearly from the liver. This guide might act as the best tutor to teach you the liver anatomy perfectly.

Surfaces of the cow liver anatomy

First, let’s identify the two surfaces (parietal and visceral) practically. Here, Figure 4 shows the parietal and visceral surfaces of the cow’s liver.  

As you know, the liver of a cow is curved strongly, thus it has a convex and concave surface, right?

The above figure clearly presents a convex surface which faces externally. This external convex surface is the parietal surface of the liver.

However, the figure also clearly presents a concave and irregular surface which faces medial to the abdomen. This medial concave and irregular surface is the visceral surface of the liver.

Now, let’s describe the anatomical features of these two surfaces of the liver separately.

Parietal surface of the liver

Most of the parietal surface of the cow’s liver is applied against the right part of the diaphragm. Thus, this surface is also termed the diaphragmatic surface of the liver.

However, a small part of this surface remains in direct contact with the last two ribs. Again, it also connects with the flank at the lumbocostal angle.

Thus, you will find the impression of the ribs at the caudodorsal aspect of the parietal surface of the liver.

Figure 5 presents most of the features of the parietal surface of the liver. I prepared this figure with a combination of the hard-drawing and real pictures of the cow’s liver.

Thus, the parietal surface of the liver faces dorsally, cranially, and to the right. Again, an oblique ridge divides this parietal surface of the liver into two areas.

You will see the falciform ligament that extends from the esophageal notch to the umbilical fissure along this surface. This ligament attaches the liver to the diaphragm.

There is a small triangular area on the dorsomedial part of this surface (near right lumbo costal angle). This part has no serous covering as it is directly attached to the cow’s diaphragm.

Visceral surface of the liver

The concave and very irregular visceral surface presents impressions of different organs and the portal fissure. Here, Figure 6 highlights only the portal fissure/porta hepatitis of the cow’s liver.

Here, the portal fissure is the most prominent and important feature of the visceral surface of the liver. This fissure is located above the omasal impression. However, this area is also attached to the cow’s pancreas.

The cow’s portal vein and hepatic artery enter the liver tissue at the portal fissure. However, the common hepatic ducts exist from the liver through this area. You will also find several lymph nodes at the portal fissure of the liver.

Now, let’s see the boundary of the portal fissure of the cow’s liver from Figure 6 again –

The papillary process, the caudate process, and the area of the adhesion of the pancreas bound this area. Here, the papillary and caudate processes are part of the cow’s liver lobes.

What are the impressions on the visceral surface of the cow’s liver?

Figure 7 highlights the impressions of the different organs on the visceral surface of the cow liver anatomy. Here, this hand-drawing diagram of the liver presents the omasal, reticular, abomasal, cystic, and duodenal impressions on its visceral surface.

So, let’s try to identify these above-mentioned impressions on the liver –

Omasal impression: It is a large, central, and deeper impression just below the portal fissure. However, this impression is caused by the omasum part of the stomach and makes most of the concavity of the liver.

Reticular impression: It is smaller, narrower, and shallow marginal depression below the esophageal notch and omasal impression. However, a rounded ridge separates this impression from the omasal impression.

Abomasal impression: The abomasal impression is only distinct in young animals and lies along the ventral part of the visceral surface. It usually disappears as the omasal and reticular impressions increase in size with age. Thus, the displacement of the abomasum occurs from the contact of the liver.

Cystic impression: Here, the cystic impression is formed by the cow’s gall bladder. However, it lies on the lateral part of the portal fissure and appears as a deep furrow.

Duodenal impression: Sometimes the duodenal impression appears in the form of a faint groove just dorsal and lateral to the portal fissure. Here, this faint groove holds the S-shaped portion of the duodenum of the small intestine. 

Is there any pancreatic impression on the visceral surface of the liver?

Well, a part of the cow’s pancreas is also in contact with the visceral surface of the liver. It lies slightly dorsal and lateral to the portal fissure of the liver.

However, there is no distinct impression of the pancreas on the visceral surface of the liver.

The visceral surface also shows 2 important structures: the fissure for the round ligament and the attachment of the lesser omentum.

Borders of the cow’s liver

Figure 8 highlights the borders of the cow’s liver. It presents a total of 4 borders – dorsal, ventral, lateral, and medial.

Here, the lateral and medial borders are also termed the right and left borders, respectively. To identify these borders perfectly, you might hold the liver in its natural position and direction practically.

Here, in the mentioned figure, I tried to maintain the conditions (natural position and direction). Thus, it might help you to identify the four borders of the cow’s liver practically.

Dorsal and ventral borders of the liver

Dorsal border: Here, the dorsal border of the cow’s liver is thick and short. It extends a short distance beyond the upper part of the last rib caudally.

However, this border presents a large, thick, and quadrilateral caudate lobe towards the right angle. It also contains a deep renal impression on its left angle for holding the kidney and adrenal gland.

Again, this border also presents a notch or deep sulcus for the caudal vena cava of the cow.

Figure 9 presents the features of the dorsal and ventral borders of the cow’s liver.

Ventral border: The ventral border of the liver is thin, short, and convex. It presents the cystic impression and a notch for the round ligament.

Right and left borders of the liver

Right/lateral border: Here, the lateral border of the liver is thin. It presents the umbilical fissure to which the round ligament is attached.

Left/medial border: The left medial border is smoothly curved and is continuous with the dorsal and ventral borders. It is also thin and presents a shallow notch in the middle for the passage of the esophagus.

Here, the caudal vena cava passes caudally above this esophageal notch (Figure 10). However, the vena cava embeds itself partially in the body of the liver. You will see the hepatic veins open directly into the caudal vena cava at this border.

Lobes of the cow’s liver anatomy

The lobes of the cow liver anatomy is indistinct than those of other species like the dog, sheep, and goat. However, I tried to present the 4 lobes from the cow liver in Figure 11 with the combination of a hand-drawn diagram and a real picture.

Right lobe: It faces the right side and is a very short but thick lobe of the liver. There is no clear separation, but you may consider a demarcation line from the gallbladder fossa to the portal fissure.

Above this demarcation line, the right side area is the right lobe of the liver.

Left lobe: It is ventral in position and also has no clear demarcation. However, you may consider the left lobe as the area that faces ventrally and to the left side.

Caudate lobe: The caudate lobe of the cow’s liver is presented on the dorsal border. However, it lies between the caudal vena cava and the left branch of the portal vein.

Here, in the cow’s liver, the caudate lobe possesses 2 processes –

• First: Large elongated caudate process (caudal and right),
• Second: Small variable papillary process (cranial and left)

However, the caudate process extends towards the right and covers much of the visceral surface of the right lobe. Together, the right and caudate lobe forms the renal impression for lodging the kidney.

Quadrate lobe: It is very indistinct in the cow’s liver. However, it is believed that it is present between the left lobe and the ventral border of the liver.

Attachments of the cow’s liver

Figure 12 presents some of the ligaments of the cow’s liver that attach it to the abdomen. Thus, the liver holds its position with the help of these ligaments.

Followings are the ideal ligaments in the cow’s liver –

• Right lateral ligament: It attaches the dorsal border of the liver to the anterior part of the sublumbar region/diaphragm. However, the left lateral ligament is absent in the cow’s liver.
• Caudate ligament: It attaches the caudate lobe of the liver to the ventral face of the right kidney. Again, it also attaches the lobe to caudal venacava and part of the pancreas.
• Lesser omentum: This ligament is attached along the portal fissure and extends up to the esophageal notch. However, it connects the cow’s liver with the omasum and lesser curvature of the abomasum compartment of the stomach.
• Falciform ligament: It is a crescentic fold that attaches the sternal part of the cow’s diaphragm to the parietal surface of the liver.
• Round ligament: Here, the round ligament is the slightly thickening of the caudal free edge of the falciform ligament. However, it is the vestige of the umbilical vein.

Here, the round ligament attaches the umbilical fissure of the liver to the umbilicus. Most of these ligaments of the liver are derived from the fold of the peritoneum.

However, in my older cow, the falciform and round ligaments may disappear.

Hepatic, cystic, and bile ducts

Here, I will describe the duct system from the cow’s liver and gallbladder. First, let’s know how the hepatic duct is formed in the cow’s liver.

Well, there are smaller hepatic ducts present in the different lobes of the cow’s liver. Here, the smaller hepatic ducts from the various parts of the main lobe and caudate lobe join together to form the main hepatic duct.

Now the hepatic duct exits from the liver through the portal fissure and gives off a smaller duct. This smaller duct continues to the neck of the gall bladder and forms the cystic duct.

How is the bile duct formed?

The common hepatic duct and cystic duct of a cow join to form the common bile duct. Here, the bile duct of the cow opens into the duodenum at the second bend of the ansa sigmoidea. It is just 60 centimetres away from the pyloric end of the abomasum of the cow’s stomach.

Here, Figure 13 presents the hepatic, cystic, and common bile ducts of the cow’s liver.

However, the celiac or hepatic plexus innervates the cow’s liver. At the same time, the hepatic artery and hepatic vein are the main arterial and venous supply to the liver.

FAQ’s on cow’s hindlimb muscles

Conclusion

So, the cow liver anatomy comprises the features of its surfaces, lobes, borders, and attachments with the location. Here, the parietal surface of the liver presents the falciform ligament and bears some impressions of the ribs at its caudodorsal aspect.

Again, the visceral surfaces present the most important structure, the portal fissure and various impressions. However, the 4 lobes, borders, and directions of the cow’s liver are important for practical identification and study of its perfectly.

References

• Ghosh, R. K.: Primary veterinary anatomy, 2nd Edn.Current Books International, Kolkata.
• Shirai W, et al., Three-dimensional vasculature of the bovine liver. Anat Histol Embryol. 2005 Dec;34(6):354-63.
• Rowen D. Frandson, W. Lee Wilke, and A. Dee: Anatomy and physiology of farm animals, 4th edn.Wiley-Blackwell, USA.
• Prasad, J. and R.D. Sinha. 1982. Note on the liver of Indian buffaloes. Indian J. Anim. Sci., 52(3): 191-195. 
• Kalyani R., et al., Gross anatomy of the liver of sambar deer, Inter Jr of Vet. Sci. and Ani. Hus. 2024; 9(5): 425-427.
• Getty, R. Sission and Grossman’s The anatomy of the domestic animals, 5th Edn. W. B. Saynders and Co. Philadelphia (USA).
• Pravin NT and Padmakar JK, Gross morphological observations of the liver in buffalo. Buffalo Bulletin (January-March 2021) Vol.40 No.1 
• Nickel, R., Schummer, A. and Seiferle, E.: The anatomy of domestic animals, 1st Edn. Verlag Paul Parey, Berlin.
• Hermanson et al., Miller and Evan’s Anatomy of the dog, 5th Edn. Elsevier.
• McLeod, W. N.: Bovine anatomy, 2nd Edn. Burgess Publishing Co., Minneapolis.
• Dyce, K. M., W. O. Sack and C. S. G. Wensing: Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy, Lea & Febiger. Philadelphia

Written by