Hepatic Protrusion

The hepatic prominence (Latin prominens hepato, from press down; ancient Greek επί - on, above and μιμητής - imitator; also known as hepatrium latinized Hepatic trium) is a protruding part of the liver that can be found in the abdominal cavity in humans, palmate, raccoon and other animals. It consists of the surface of the large broad ligament covered by peritoneum. The liver has a long and thick ligament with the anterior abdominal wall, and the hepatic "threads" develop into the mesentery.

The hepatic protrusion can be sharp, pyramid-shaped, rectangular or round. It may contain fibrous tissue with blood vessels, fatty tissue and nerves. The liver also has venous valves and lymph nodes that are located under its ventral ligamentous hemisphere. In children during intrauterine development, the hepatic protrusion is a neoplasm.

This part of the body affects the functioning of other abdominal organs. Having certain neurohumoral influences, it inhibits many physiological processes (for example, the process of defecation), but blocks others (for example, intestinal blood circulation occurs in it). This part also has a reflex meaning. That is, its changes can indicate different physiological states of the body (for example, it increases with hunger and decreases with excess nutrition). Another important role of the protruding part of the liver is to reflexively slow down the tone (tension) of the smooth muscles of the duodenum, which promotes more active intestinal motility and accelerates the movement of food through it. Thanks to this, it becomes easier to digest food - all the conditions for adequate nutrition are created so that the body has the strength to function more actively.