Final answer:
The falciform ligament is a peritoneal fold that connects the liver to the anterior abdominal wall and diaphragm, separating the right and left liver lobes. It is the remnant of the ventral mesentery and contains the ligamentum teres hepatis, which is the obliterated umbilical vein from fetal life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The falciform ligament is located in the abdomen, running from the liver to the ventral abdominal wall and diaphragm, acting as a separation between the right and left lobes of the liver. Embryologically, it is a remnant of the ventral mesentery of the fetus and contains the obliterated umbilical vein, which becomes the ligamentum teres hepatis in adults.
The ligamentum teres hepatis is found within the free edge of the falciform ligament and represents the remnant of the umbilical vein, which provided oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus during intrauterine life. Postnatally, this vein occludes, contributing to the formation of the falciform ligament and ultimately becoming fibrous.