Middle hepatic vein (Vena hepatica media)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
A major hepatic vein traversing the principal plane of the liver (Cantlie's line), draining segments IV, V, and VIII, commonly uniting with the left hepatic vein into the IVC.
Clinical notes
Defines the surgical anatomical boundary between functional right and left liver lobes; preservation or reconstruction is pivotal in living-donor right lobe liver transplantation.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Middle hepatic vein?
A major hepatic vein traversing the principal plane of the liver (Cantlie's line), draining segments IV, V, and VIII, commonly uniting with the left hepatic vein into the IVC.
Why is the Middle hepatic vein clinically important?
Defines the surgical anatomical boundary between functional right and left liver lobes; preservation or reconstruction is pivotal in living-donor right lobe liver transplantation.
Source & license
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