Understanding Retrohepatic Anatomy and Its Significance

Retrohepatic means "behind the liver". It is a term used to describe a location or structure that is situated behind the liver. In anatomical terms, the liver is located in the abdominal cavity, and anything that is retrohepatic is located behind it.

For example, the retrohepatic inferior vena cava is a vein that runs behind the liver and carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart. Similarly, the retrohepatic gallbladder is a small organ located behind the liver that stores bile produced by the liver.

Retrohepatic can also be used to describe a condition or disease that affects the liver and the surrounding tissues. For example, retrohepatic pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that spreads behind the liver.