Left Hepatic Artery

Description

Arising from the proper hepatic artery in the hepatoduodenal ligament, the left hepatic artery courses superiorly and to the left toward the porta hepatis before entering the left lobe. Within the liver parenchyma it arborizes into segmental and subsegmental branches that track alongside the left portal vein and left hepatic duct as part of the portal triads, with progressively smaller arterioles extending toward the peripheral capsular surface. Medial to its distribution lie the hilar plate and biliary confluence, while posterior relations typically include the inferior vena cava as it grooves the dorsal liver. Short, curved turns along its trajectory. A clear caliber change is evident as the vessel transitions from extrahepatic trunk to intrahepatic branches. Attention to the left hepatic artery matters because its anatomy directly shapes hepatobiliary and transplant surgery: surgeons often need to control or reconstruct inflow to segments II, III, and IV during left hepatectomy, split-liver grafting, or complex hilar dissection. Variant arterial patterns are common, and a left hepatic artery that originates from the left gastric artery (a replaced or accessory left hepatic artery) is a frequent reason for unexpected bleeding or postoperative left lobe ischemia when the lesser curvature is mobilized. This view supports safe planning. It also helps correlate catheter angiography and CT angiography findings with operative landmarks at the porta hepatis. Use this artwork in gross anatomy teaching on abdominal viscera, in hepatobiliary fellowship lectures on the portal triad, or in a surgical atlas chapter covering hepatic resection and arterial complications after cholecystectomy or liver transplantation. It also fits patient-facing materials that explain dual inflow from the hepatic artery and portal vein without oversimplifying the segmental blood supply. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.