What is the sonographic appearance of the liver?
The liver is normally homogeneous in echotexture, equal to or slightly more echogenic than the renal cortex, and hypoechoic compared to the spleen and pancreas. Along the midhepatic line, the liver is normally <15.5 cm in length. The hepatic veins are readily visible sonographically and help define hepatic anatomy.
The right hepatic vein divides the right hepatic lobe into anterior and posterior segments. The middle hepatic vein separates the anterior segment of the right hepatic lobe and the medial segment of the left hepatic lobe.
The gallbladder also separates the anterior segment of the right lobe and the medial segment of the left lobe. The left hepatic vein divides the left hepatic lobe into medial and lateral segments. The ligamentum teres also separates the medial and lateral segments of the left hepatic lobe.
