A Comparative Study of Different Morphometric Measurements of Liver Specimens from Adult Cadavers and Dead Foetuses

The main objective of the present study is to record various measurements regarding the morphometry of 98 liver specimens and compare them with those values given in the textbooks of standard authors. The knowledge regarding such measurements forms an important criterion in the day to day practice for the Surgeons, Physicians, Radiologists and Pathologists while performing various surgical interventions, in diagnosing the disease patterns & in various treatment regimens.

Livers from 48 adult cadavers and 50 dead foetuses were acquired from the government general hospital over a period of 8 years. Cadavers and foetuses were injected with embalming fluid (standard composition) and the livers were dissected out. Morphometric measurements of liver specimens in various aspects were done. Dimensions of the liver specimens from adult cadavers with respect to length, width, thickness, base, height, volume and weight were measured under standard procedures. The measurements of foetal livers were done in terms of length, width, thickness, weight; circumference. The symmetry of lobes of the foetal livers was also kept as a criterion for the comparison. The gestational age and total body weight of the foetuses was also included in the study as these factors also play a vital role for the liver to attain various sizes.

The morphometry of liver regarding various dimensions were compared and collaborated with those given in Gray, Gardener, and Orahilly& Hamilton. The weights of foetal livers fell short of few points with those given in Hamilton. The weights of adult livers coincided with those illustrated in Gray, Gardener & Orahilly.The volume of adult livers correlated with those depicted in Henderson, Heymsfield, and Horowitz& Kutner.

The values of the present study approximately coincided with the study of various authors.