Abstract
The plate system in the hilar area consists of connective tissue, lymphatics, nerves, and communicating artery surrounded by bile ducts. There are four plates in the hilar area plate system: the hilar plate, the cystic plate, umbilical plate, and the Arantian plate. The bile duct, hepatic artery, and portal vein branches penetrate the plate system concurrently as a Glissonian pedicles in all hepatic segments, except for the caudate branches. The anatomical variation of the bile duct is occurred in the hilar plate system. On the right side, the right hepatic duct is formed in 53%. Remaining 47% of patients does not form right hepatic duct However, posterior hepatic duct join the hilar confluence in 30%, the left hepatic duct in 14%, and the common hepatic duct in 3 %. On the left side, B2 join B3 together at left side of umbilical point (UP) to form common duct in 44% ofpatients, B3 join B4 at right side of UP to form common duct in 31%, and B2, B3 and B4 are joined same place to form common duct at right side of UP in 25%. The anatomy of the communicating arcade (CA) between the right and left hepatic artery was found to be located extra-hepatically in the hilar plate with thin tributaries branching to the hilar bile duct. [Conclusion] Because a considerable number of anatomical variations in the plate system in the hilar area, it is necessary to have a precise knowledge of the plate system to perform rational surgery safely.
