ABSTRACT
To study the histological features of ligamentum venosum at different ages. An observational study. The study was conducted in Anatomy department at Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi from June 2008 to June 2009. The study was based on 6 post- mortem specimens. The livers were dissected from cadavers at ages 5, 35, and 65 years. The ligamentum venosum was dissected and fixed in 10% formalin solution for 24 hours. After fixation and processing, the slides were stained with haematoxylin and Eosin stain. At the age of five years the lumen was completely obliterated towards the portal extremity whereas it was patent near the caval extremity. At the age of 35 years the lumen was patent; the ligamentum venosum had got an intima without an endothelium. At the age of 65 years the lumen was patent; the ligamentum venosum had gotanintima without an end othe lium. The study concludes that ligamentum venosum shows different histological features at different ages. The presence of internal elastic lamina at the age of sixty five years is a unique feature of this study