Case

During an abdominal surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder, your index finger is placed into the epiploic foramen. 

Question 4/4 - What is directly superior to your finger?

Click on your selected option(s) below  (correct = 1, over-thinking = 2+)

Incorrect. The hepatoduodenal ligament joins the liver at the porta hepatis. The right lobe is to the right of that junction and thus is not directly superior to your finger.

Incorrect. The hepatoduodenal ligament joins the liver at the porta hepatis. The left lobe is to the left of that junction and thus is not directly superior to your finger. 

Incorrect. The hepatoduodenal ligament joins the liver at the porta hepatis. The quadrate lobe is anterior to that junction, thus is anterosuperior to the hepatoduodenal ligament and not directly superior to your finger.  

Correct! The hepatoduodenal ligament joins the liver at the porta hepatis. The caudate lobe is posterior to that junction (caudate, derived from caudal indicating the more posterior aspect of the liver). Thus, the caudate lobe is directly superior to your finger in the epiploic foramen.

Incorrect. The gallbladder is more anterior and lateral than the epiploic foramen. The gallbladder is linked to the hepatoduodenal ligament as the cystic duct and artery arise from the vessels of the portal triad located within the hepatoduodenal ligament.

Incorrect. The spleen is on the left side, so quite distant to the epiploic foramen.