A Case Report Study of Situs Inversus

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Introduction: Left-right asymmetry is established following gastrulation, when the notochord has transiently fused to the endoderm to form the notochordal plate. In the rare human disorder, situs inversus viscerum totalis, the handedness of all of the viscera is reversed. However, the reversal is rarely complete or exact, and errors in morphogenesis often produce subsidiary malformations, such as malrotation of the midgut. More often, the different organ systems exhibit a discordance of sidedness or heterotaxy. Methods: Dissection of the abdomen was performed during the routine dissection class. An incision was given on the anterior abdominal wall. A vertical midline incision was made in the skin from the xiphoid process, around the umbilicus, up to the pubic symphysis. Another incision was made transversely along the costal margin up to the midaxillary line superiorly, and an inferior transverse incision was given from the pubic symphysis up to the Holden’s line. Results: The liver was found in the left upper quadrant instead of its normal position. Conclusion: Knowledge of situs inversus is essential and is of immense significance in various clinical procedures performed on the liver and other abdominal organs by surgeons.