Hepatoduodenal ligament

The hepatoduodenal ligament is a peritoneal ligament of lesser omentum containing the portal triad .

Gross anatomy

The hepatoduodenal ligament is a thickening of the right edge of the lesser omentum and forms the anterior margin of the epiploic foramen. It extends from the porta hepatis to the first 2 cm of the duodenum .

Contents

From most posterior to anterior:

• portal vein 
• hepatic artery 
• common bile duct

This may be remembered by the mnemonic 'VAD' (vein, artery, duct).

Related pathology

The hepatoduodenal ligament provides a route of spread of diseases of the pancreatic head to the porta hepatis or the liver.

Development

Before the 8th week of intrauterine life, the hepatoduodenal ligament also contains the ventral bud of the pancreas from which the pancreatic head develops later.