What is the ligamentum teres?

Study liver anatomy and function with our medical students test. Engage with detailed multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your test!

The ligamentum teres hepatis is the fibrous remnant of the fetal umbilical vein. In fetal life the umbilical vein carried blood from the placenta to the liver, and after birth this vein closes and becomes a solid cord that runs within the free edge of the falciform ligament from the umbilicus to the liver’s visceral surface. It is a landmark on the liver, not a functional duct, nerve bundle, or a connection between the liver and stomach.