The series dedicated to liver development starts with a lateral view of an approximately 22-day-old embryo. The first diagram details the heart tube, vitelline veins, septum transversum, liver bud and numerous other particularities. From the 22th day to the 35th day, the liver bud grows to form the liver with sinusoids, gallbladder, pancreatic buds, falciform ligament and lesser omentum.

The next sequence shows the liver in an approximately 22-day-old embryo (viewed horizontally). The foregut (i.e. future stomach), dorsal mesentery, liver bud, septum transversums and vitelline veins are visible. In an approximately 35-day-old embryo, liver cords invade the septum transversum and disperse the vitelline veins into a multitude of hepatic sinusoids. This event is depicted along with the development of the stomach and bile duct. In an approximately 6-week-old embryo, the liver, ventral mesogastrium (lesser omentum and falciform ligament), the stomach and dorsal mesogastrium form. In an approximately 7-week-old embryo, the stomach is rotated, and the spleen and pancreas tail appear within the dorsal mesogastrium. In an approximately 8-week-old fetus, the liver, stomach, spleen and pancreas tail are in their definitive anatomical positions.

Liver formation is also illustrated in frontal view. The first diagram shows the blood circulation of an approximately 28-day-old embryo, rotating and magnifying the heart, common cardinal veins, umbilical and vitelline veins, foregut, hepatobiliary bud, vitelline duct and septum transversum. The body walls and the extension of the pericardioperitoneal canals are also represented. Then, the heart is cut out and removed with the exception of the sinus venosus. From the 28th day to the approximately 32nd day, the hepatic cords penetrate the mesenchyme of the septum transversum through the hepatic sinusoids. From the 32nd day to the 50th day, the hepatic cords continue to spread, and the pleuroperitoneal folds form the diaphragm. The same sequence animates the development of the sinus venarum, duodenum, major papilla, and portal vein along with the obliteration of the right umbilical vein, persistence of the left umbilical vein and other details. The animation continues with a fetus at term, at which time the bare area, falciform ligament and lesser omentum appear.

Changes after birth include the obliteration of the left umbilical vein to form the ligamentum teres hepatis (the obliteration of the ductus venosus is not shown).

The next sequence shows the development of the gallbladder and bile channels in an approximately 22-day-old embryo. The hepatobiliary bud and segments of the foregut and the midgut are cut out and presented in 3D under higher magnification. From the 22nd to the 30th day, the hepatobiliary bud grows into the septum transversum, future major papilla develop, and the primordium of the gallbladder, future bile duct and ventral pancreatic bud form. The foregut transforms into the stomach, and the dorsal pancreatic bud appears. In an approximately 42-day-old embryo, the stomach and the duodenum rotate to the right around the vertical axis, thus provoking the movement of the major papilla to the left side of the duodenum. As a consequence of this rotation, the bile duct dorsally crosses and opens into the duodenum at the major papilla with the excretory duct of the ventral pancreatic duct. The growth of the pancreatic buds and their position within the C-shaped duodenal concavity are highlighted. Finally, the common hepatic duct, gallbladder, and cystic and bile ducts form.

The following malformations are illustrated but not animated: obliteration of bile duct, duplication of gallbladder, low union of cystic and hepatic ducts, absence of hepatic duct and biliary atresias.

(This animation is essential for students of medicine and veterinary medicine as well as for departments of anatomy, histology, embryology, physiology and cell biology; it is also recommended for students of biology and stomatology as well as for departments or clinics of gastroenterology and research institutes of hepatology.)