Background: Hepatic surgery requires comprehensive knowledge of structures passing through porta hepatis. This fact prompted us to undertake the study of porta hepatis (PH). Our aim was to find out the dimensions, shape of porta hepatis and the numerical variations of structures passing through it. Material and Methods: This study was carried out on 25 adult cadaveric formalin preserved human liver. The porta hepatis was identified and its transverse diameter, maximum anteroposterior diameter, various parts of liver contributing in its formation and total circumference were measured using Digital Sliding Vernier Caliper, thread and scale. Number of arteries, veins and ducts passing through it were observed. Observations and Results: The mean transverse diameter, anteroposterior diameter and total circumference of porta hepatis was 3.80 ± 1.03 cm, 1.79 ± 0.43 cm and 13.61 ± 1.92 cm respectively. Maximum contribution to the circumference of PH was made by caudate process (18.8%) and minimum by fossa for gall bladder (13.1%). 8 specimen showed presence of2 arteries, 1 vein and 1 duct at porta hepatis. Maximum number of arteries, veins and ducts passing through PH were 5, 3 and 3 respectively in one specimen each. In most of the cases the shape of porta hepatis was triangular. Conclusion: The dimensions and shape of porta hepatis; arrangement and number of structures at it is highly variable and hence its knowledge can be of great importance to hepato-billiary surgeons.

Being a highly vascular and one of the essential endocrine glands, the knowledge of the variations in the morphology of the thyroid gland stands an important role with respect to their identification, isolation or preservation, and prevention of any untoward complication during the surgeries around the neck region, thus increasing the chances of favourable surgical outcome. Aim:The aim of the present study was to identify the frequent variants in the structure of the thyroid gland, and to compare the same with the work of other authors. Materials and Methods:The present study was conducted on total 86 thyroid glands with morphological variations, out of which 42 were of males and 44 were of females. These were obtained during routine dissection of the neck in the adult human cadavers aged above 50 years. Results:The most common variation in the present study was the presence of pyramidal lobe (50% in males and 65.9% in females), followed by the levator glandulae thyroidae (45.2% in males and 52.3% in females), absence of the isthmus (7.1% in males and 20.5% in females), accessory thyroid tissue (2.4% in males and 2.8% in females), and the least common was presence of groove in the thyroid tissue (0% in males and 2.8% in females). There were also combination of variants in some thyroids. Conclusion:The study emphasizes on the common anatomical variations in the thyroid gland morphology and their surgical correlations.

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