The portal triad is contained within which ligament?

• A. Falciform Ligament
• B. Hepatoduodenal Ligament
• C. Gastrohepatic Ligament
• D. Coronary Ligament

Answer: (B)

The portal triad—comprising the hepatic artery proper, the portal vein, and the common bile duct—runs within the hepatoduodenal ligament, a thickened edge of the lesser omentum that connects the liver to the duodenum. This ligament forms the anterior boundary of the omental (epiploic) foramen, making it the key location where the major inflow structures to the liver are contained and accessible surgically (as in the Pringle maneuver to control bleeding).

The other ligaments have different roles and contents: the falciform ligament anchors the liver to the anterior abdominal wall and contains the ligamentum teres; the gastrohepatic ligament is part of the lesser omentum between stomach and liver and carries gastric vessels; the coronary ligament anchors the liver to the diaphragm. None of these house the full portal triad.