Diagnostic Ultrasound - Abdomen and Pelvis

Liver
PORTA HEPATIS
Anatomy: Abdomen
Hepatic artery
Systolic peak
End diastole
Common bile duct
Right hepatic artery
Main portal vein
IVC
Right hepatic artery
Common bile duct
Main portal vein
IVC
(Top) Longitudinal oblique spectral tracing of the main hepatic artery shows a typical low-resistance waveform, with brisk upstroke and
forward diastolic flow. In this case, the hepatic artery velocity is 44 cm/s, which is normal. When measuring velocity, proper angle
correction is the key to obtaining accurate velocities. (Middle) Oblique grayscale ultrasound of the liver, centered at the porta hepatis,
shows the common bile duct anterior to the right hepatic artery and portal vein. The IVC is seen posterior to the portal vein. (Bottom)
Oblique color Doppler ultrasound of the liver, centered at the porta hepatis, shows the common bile duct is anterior to the portal vein
and the right hepatic artery is between these 2 structures. This is the typical anatomy in this location, although anatomic variants of
the right hepatic artery may occur in which the hepatic artery may be located anterior to the common bile duct.
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