TOPOGRAPHY AND MORPHOLOGY OF THE LIVER AND BILIARY DUCT SYSTEM IN FOWL, PIGEON, QUAIL, HERON AND KESTREL

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Abstract

The liver is situated in the ventral part of the body cavity against the sternum. The relation between the caudal termination of the liver and the caudal end of the sternal crest depends upon the species of the studied birds. In fowl and kestrel, the liver terminates about 0.5 and 1.5 cm cranial to the caudal end of the sternal crest respect ively, while in pigeon and quail the liver terminates nearly at the caudal end of the sternal crest. However, in duck and heron, it projects 2.9 and 2 cm behind the caudal end of the sternal crest. The liver forms about 62.07% in duck, 43.75% in quail, 35.5% in heron, 30.83% in pigeon, 28.57% in fowl and 25% in Kestrel of the whole length of
the body cavity. In all the studied birds, the liver is divided by Incisura interlobaris cranialis et caudalis into a larger Lobus dexter and a smaller Lobus sinister. Only in fowl and quail the Lobus sinister is subdivided again into Pars caudodorsalis and Pars caudoventralis. The lobes of the liver are drained by the right and left hepatic ducts. These two ducts unite with each other at the Porta hepatis forming the common hepatic duct. Except in pigeon, a common hepatoenteric duct arises from this duct and opens in the distal part of the ascending duodenum. In heron there is a right hepatoenteric duct in addition to the common one.
The gall bladder is drained by a cysticoenteric duct which opens in the ascending duodenum.