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Functional anatomy of the retro- and suprahepatic portions of the human inferior vena cava and their main affluents

Anatomie fonctionnelle des segments rétro et supra-hépatiques de la veine cave inférieure et de leurs principaux affluents

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Summary

The arrangement of muscle, collagen and elastic fibers was studied in the retro- and suprahepatic (subdiaphragmatic) portions of the inferior vena cava, the hepatic veins and their main affluents. Distinctive features of the longitudinal and transverse muscle bundles are described. In these portions of the vena cava, both bundle systems are clearly separate and any continuity was observed only at the entrances of the hepatic veins. A musculo-venulolymphatic complex was noted in spurs formed by the vascular junctions. The hepatic veins and their main affluents exhibit an elliptical contour in transverse section, which apparently results from cranial and caudal thickenings of the longitudinal muscle layer. Many of these bundles are in continuity with those of the transverse muscle layer. Terminal elastic tendons were rarely observed in connection with muscle fibers of the inferior vena cava and are not present in the hepatic veins and their main affluents. In terms of form and function, the relatively thin muscular layer has a dilating action on the hepatic venous system because of the external fixed insertion point of the muscle bundles. Such an arrangement and a “polar” disposition of the muscle bundles in the hepatic venous system may assists in “suction” of the blood toward the heart. A sphincteric control of the ostia by means of crossed muscular loops supported by venulo-lymphatic micropads is a possibility.

Résumé

La disposition des fibres collagènes et élastiques des muscles de la paroi veineuse a été étudiée dans les segments rétro et suprahépatiques (sub-diaphragmatique) de la veine cave inférieure, des veines hépatiques et de leurs principaux affluents. Des caractéristiques de groupes musculaires longitudinaux et transversaux sont décrits. Dans ces portions de la veine cave, les deux groupes sont distinctement séparés et une continuité n'a pu etre observée qu'aux abouchements des veines hépatiques. Un complexe musculoveino-lymphatique a été décrit sous forme d'éperons aux jonctions vasculaires. Les veines hépatiques et leurs principaux affluents présentent un contour elliptique en section transversale, qui résulte apparemment d'épaississements crânio-caudaux de la couche musculaire longitudinale. De nombreux groupes sont en continuité avec ceux de la couche musculaire transversale. Des tendons élastiques terminaux ont été rarement observés en connection avec les fibres musculaires de la veine cave. Ils sont absents dans les veines hépatiques et leurs principaux affluents. Les analyses morpho-fonctionnelles confèrent à la couche musculaire relativement fine une action d'expansion sur le système de veines hépatiques en fonction du point d'insertion fixe externe des groupes musculaires. Un tel arrangement et une disposition “polaire” de groupes de muscles dans le système veineux hépatique peut favoriser une “aspiration” du sang vers le coeur. Un contrôle sphinctérien au niveau des abouchements par un système d'anneaux musculaires croisés supportés par des microbourrelets veinolymphatiques est analysé.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2415, CEP 05389-970, São Paulo, Brasil

    CA Ferraz-de-Carvalho, EA Liberti, I Fujimura & JO Nogueira

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  1. CA Ferraz-de-Carvalho
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  2. EA Liberti
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  3. I Fujimura
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  4. JO Nogueira
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Ferraz-de-Carvalho, C., Liberti, E., Fujimura, I. et al. Functional anatomy of the retro- and suprahepatic portions of the human inferior vena cava and their main affluents. Surg Radiol Anat 16, 267–275 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01627681

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