Anat Cell Biol.  2018 Sep;51(3):218-222. 10.5115/acb.2018.51.3.218.

Persistent right umbilical vein: a study using serial sections of human embryos and fetuses

• Kim JH
• Jin ZW
• Murakami G
• Chai OH
• Rodríguez-Vázquez JF

• KMID: 2447018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2018.51.3.218

Abstract

Persistent right umbilical vein (PRUV) is a common anomaly of the venous system. Although candidates for future PRUV were expected to occur more frequently in earlier specimens, evaluation of serial horizontal sections from 58 embryos and fetuses of gestational age 5-7 weeks found that only two of these embryos and fetuses were candidates for anomalies. In a specimen, a degenerating right umbilical vein (UV) joined the thick left UV in a narrow peritoneal space between the liver and abdominal cavity, and in the other specimen, a degenerating left UV joined a thick right UV in the abdominal wall near the liver. In these two specimens, the UV drained into the normal, umbilical portion of the left liver. These results strongly suggested that, other than the usual PRUV draining into the right liver, another type of PRUV was likely to consist of the right UV draining into the left liver.

Keyword

Persistent right umbilical vein; Right paramedian sector; Umbilical portion of the left liver; Gallbladder; Human embryos

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Cavity
Abdominal Wall
Embryonic Structures*
Fetus*
Gallbladder
Gestational Age
Humans*
Liver
Umbilical Veins*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A degenerating right umbilical vein (RUV) in a specimen of crownrump length 13 mm: normal morphology. Panels A and F represent the most superior and inferior sites, respectively, in the figure. The intervals between panels are 0.08 mm (A–B), 0.1 mm (B–C, C–D), and 0.05 mm (D–E, E–F). The RUV is degenerating and restricted in planes of almost 0.15 mm thickness (panels C–E). The left umbilical vein (LUV) drains into the liver in planes 0.4 mm superior to panel A. SMA, superior mesenteric artery; UA, umbilical artery. Scale bar=1 mm.

• 

  Fig. 2 A degenerating left umbilical vein (LUV) joining the right umbilical vein (RUV) near the liver in a specimen of crown-rump length 13 mm. Panels A and F represent the most superior and inferior sites, respectively, in the figure. Intervals between panels are 0.1 mm (A–B), 0.05 mm (B–C, C–D, D–E), and 0.1 mm (E–F). The RUV is thicker than the LUV; the latter is degenerating and disappears in planes almost 1.0 mm below panel F. Following fusion of these bilateral umbilical veins (C), a common thick vein drains into the umbilical portion of the left liver (UP in panel A). As the configuration of intrahepatic portal veins is normal, the gallbladder (GB) is located in the right side of the umbilical portion. CA, celiac artery; CBD, common bile duct; CL, caudate lobe of the liver; P2, P5+8 or P6+7, segmental portal vein to Couinaud's segment 2, 5+8 (i.e., anterior sector) or 6+7 (i.e., posterior sector). Scale bar=1 mm.

• 

  Fig. 3 A degenerating right umbilical vein (RUV) joining the left umbilical vein (LUV) near the liver in a specimen of crown-rump length 14 mm. Panels A and F represent the most superior and inferior sites, respectively, in the figure. The intervals between panels are 0.1 mm (A–B, B–C), 0.05 mm (C–D), 0.1 mm (D–E) and 0.2 mm (E–F). The RUV is degenerating and restricted in planes of almost 0.35 mm thickness (A–E). However, the right vein joins the LUV near the liver (B). A configuration of intrahepatic portal veins is normal. P2 or P3, segmental portal vein to Couinaud's segment 2 or 3; SMA, superior mesenteric artery; UP, umbilical portion of the left liver; VV, vitelline vein. Scale bar=1 mm.

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