The bare area of the liver (nonperitoneal area) is a large triangular area on the diaphragmatic surface of the

liver The liver is a major metabolic organ (anatomy), organ exclusively found in vertebrates, which performs many essential biological Function (biology), functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of var ...

. It is the only part of the liver with no

peritoneal The peritoneum is the serous membrane forming the lining of the abdominal cavity or coelom in amniotes and some invertebrates, such as annelids. It covers most of the intra-abdominal (or coelomic) organs, and is composed of a layer of mesotheli ...

covering, although it is still covered by Glisson's capsule. It is attached directly to the diaphragm by

loose connective tissue Loose connective tissue, also known as areolar tissue, is a cellular connective tissue with thin and relatively sparse collagen fibers. They have a semi-fluid matrix with lesser proportions of fibers. Its ground substance occupies more vol ...

. The bare area of the liver is relevant to the

portacaval anastomosis A portacaval anastomosis or portocaval anastomosis is a specific type of circulatory anastomosis that occurs between the veins of the portal circulation and the vena cava, thus forming one of the principal types of portasystemic anastomosis or po ...

, encloses the right extraperitoneal subphrenic space, and can be a site of spread of infection from the

abdominal cavity The abdominal cavity is a large body cavity in humans and many other animals that contain Organ (anatomy), organs. It is a part of the abdominopelvic cavity. It is located below the thoracic cavity, and above the pelvic cavity. Its dome-shaped roo ...

to the

thoracic cavity The thoracic cavity (or chest cavity) is the chamber of the body of vertebrates that is protected by the thoracic wall (rib cage and associated skin, muscle, and fascia). The central compartment of the thoracic cavity is the mediastinum. Ther ...

Structure

The bare area of the liver is found on the posterosuperior surface of the right lobe of the

. This lies close to the

thoracic diaphragm The thoracic diaphragm, or simply the diaphragm (; ), is a sheet of internal Skeletal striated muscle, skeletal muscle in humans and other mammals that extends across the bottom of the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm is the most important Muscles ...

. It is the only part of the liver that has no

covering. It lies between the two layers of the coronary ligament, as well as the

right triangular ligament The right triangular ligament is situated at the right extremity of the bare area, and is a small fold which passes to the Thoracic diaphragm, diaphragm, being formed by the apposition of the upper and lower layers of the coronary ligament. Addit ...

. The coronary ligament represents reflections of the visceral peritoneum covering the liver onto the diaphragm. The bare area of the liver is attached to the thoracic diaphragm by

. It touches the bottom surface of the diaphragm. It is also not covered in capsule.

Clinical significance

The bare area of the liver is clinically important because of the

. It is a site where infection can spread from the

to the

. It encloses the right extraperitoneal subphrenic space.

History

The bare area of the liver may also be known as the nonperitoneal area.

References

Additional images

File:Slide2CHA.JPG, Bare area of the liver.Diaphragmatic surface of liver.

External links

* - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: Ligaments of the Liver" * {{Portal bar, Anatomy Liver anatomy