The visceral surface of the liver is a relatively flat and irregularly shaped postero-inferior surface that faces adjacent structures and abdominal organs. Similar to the diaphragmatic surface, this surface is also covered by the visceral peritoneum, except at the porta hepatis and gallbladder fossa.

The inferior aspect of this surface appears very irregular, and it communicates with the right kidney and its adrenal (suprarenal) gland, right colic flexure, transverse colon, duodenum, gallbladder, esophagus, stomach, and lesser omentum. In contrast, the posterior aspect of the visceral surface is smoother and appears convex. Most of this aspect is covered by the diaphragm.

The middle part of the visceral surface presents with a group of fissures and fossae that together form the letter H:

The transverse fissure represents the crossbar of the letter H, and it is formed by the porta hepatis (Read more!).
The left limb of the H is composed of two deep sagittal fissures that house two ligaments - ligamentum venosum (fissure for the ligamentum venosum) and ligamentum teres hepatis (round ligament) (fissure for the ligamentum teres hepatis).
The right limb of the letter H is formed by the fossa for the inferior vena cava and fossa for the gallbladder.

The quadrate lobe (Read more!) of the liver lies anterior to the porta hepatis, while the caudate lobe (Read more!) is positioned posterior to it.

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Visceral surface