[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Abdomen](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/abdomen/) › Liver segment VI [Digestive system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/digestive-system/) · [Abdomen](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/abdomen/) # Liver segment VI Liver segment VI is the lowest, outermost part of the right liver, resting on the right kidney and the bend of the colon. Official name: Anterior lateral segment of liver [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=abdomen&select=liver_segment_6&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is Liver segment VI: the lower back part of the right lobe. ## What it does Because each segment has its own supply, surgeons can remove one or more segments and leave the rest working. ## Key points - Lowest and most lateral part of the right [liver](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/liver/), resting on the right kidney and the hepatic flexure of the colon - With liver segment VII it forms the right posterior section, behind the plane of the right hepatic vein - Faces the hepatorenal pouch (Morison pouch), the first place the right upper quadrant view of a trauma ultrasound (FAST) checks for free fluid ## Key facts **Where** Right posterior section, inferior part; lateral and inferior right liver, near right kidney **Blood supply** Right posterior portal pedicle; drains into right hepatic vein (varies: also an inferior right hepatic vein to IVC) **Nerve** Hepatic plexus (celiac sympathetic and vagal fibres) along its portal pedicle, shared with the whole liver **Function** Independent surgical unit; bile to right posterior sectoral duct ## Relations **Above** [Liver segment VII](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/posterior-lateral-segment-of-liver/), above the portal plane **In front** [Liver segment V](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/anterior-medial-segment-of-liver/), across the plane of the right hepatic vein **Behind** Upper pole of the right [kidney](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/kidney/), across the hepatorenal pouch **Below** Hepatic flexure of the colon ## How to find it Behind the lower right [ribs](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/ribs/) in the anterior and midaxillary lines, low on the right side; in surgery it is the lower outer corner of the right liver, lifted to reach the hepatorenal pouch. ## On imaging On CT or MRI it is the lower part of the liver behind the plane of the right hepatic vein; on ultrasound the right flank view shows it above the right kidney with Morison pouch between them. ## Common problems - Fatty liver disease, very common with obesity and diabetes. - Hepatitis (viral, alcohol). - Cirrhosis: scarring that can lead to liver failure and portal hypertension. - Liver cancer and metastases. ## How it is diagnosed Blood tests (liver enzymes), ultrasound, elastography, CT or MRI, biopsy. ## Treatment - Treat the cause (weight loss, antiviral medicines, stopping alcohol); surgery to remove segments; liver transplant for failure. ## Clinical notes - When an inferior right hepatic vein drains it straight into the [inferior vena cava](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/inferior-vena-cava/), segments VII and VIII can be removed with the right hepatic vein while segment VI survives - The lower right posterior liver is reached through the lower right intercostal spaces in the midaxillary line, the usual window for percutaneous biopsy and abscess drainage - In blunt trauma to the lower right [chest](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/chest/) wall the posterior segments of the right liver (VI and VII) are among the most often torn, since they lie against the lower ribs and the [spine](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/spine/) ## Anatomical variants - Riedel lobe: a [tongue](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/tongue/) -like downward extension of the right liver, usually from segment VI and more frequent in women, that can be felt as a right flank mass or mistaken for a large kidney ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## Which section of the liver does segment VI belong to? The right posterior section, with liver segment VII, behind the plane of the right hepatic vein. ## Which space does liver segment VI face, checked first in a trauma FAST scan? The hepatorenal pouch (Morison pouch), between the liver and the right kidney. ## When can liver segment VI survive removal of segments VII and VIII with the right hepatic vein? When an inferior right hepatic vein drains segment VI straight into the IVC. [Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/anterior-lateral-segment-of-liver/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** segmentum anterius laterale dextrum hepatis TA2 3079 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Segmento VI del hígado DeCS D008099 **English (TA2)** Anterior lateral segment of liver **Also called** segment VI of liver Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [DeCS](https://decs.bvsalud.org/es/ths/resource/?id=8272); [Diagnostic Imaging of the Liver](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557460/); [Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Liver](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500014/); [23.6 Accessory Organs in Digestion: The Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder](https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/23-6-accessory-organs-in-digestion-the-liver-pancreas-and-gallbladder) (OpenStax (Rice University), 2022) · adapted, [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/anterior-lateral-segment-of-liver/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/anterior-lateral-segment-of-liver/