ABSTRACT
The left triangular ligament of liver and its fibrous appendix(free border) was studied in 42 Chinese adult male cadavers. 37 fibrous appendices were further studied histologically.In order to prove the formation of the fibrous appendix 30 left triangular ligaments of new born cadavers were also studied. The average length of the left triangular ligament of adult cadavers was 13.91cm.,and that of their fibrous appendices was 6.86cm. Almost all of the left triangular ligaments were attached to the superior surface of the left lobe of liver,consequ- ently, the left suprahepatic space could be properly subdivided into anterior and posterior left suprahepatic spaces by the ligament. The forms of the fibrous appendices were classified into 5 types:triangular (23.8％), narrow band(14.3%), triangular-narrow band(50.0％),membranous (7.1%), and bifurcate type(4.8%).The left triangular ligaments of the 30 new born cadavers were devoid of fibrous appendix. Histological observations of the 37 fibrous appendices showed:aberrant bile ducts were found in 89% of the cases, rudimentory liver-cell cord 65％,nerves 78％, and blood vessels 100％.Their size and number diminished gradually from the pro- Kimal (hepatic) end of the fibrous appendix to the distalend. The authors agreed with Toldt and Zuckandl that the fibrous appendix might be the result of the retrogression of the left lobe and suggested that the occurrence of the fibrous appendix was after birth. The clinical importance of the fibrous appen- dix was discussed.