VI.—The development of the hepatic venous system and the postcaval vein in the marsupialia

Abstract

The present paper contains a detailed account of the development of the hepatic venous system and the postcaval vein in a number of genera of Marsupials, including representatives of both the Polyprotodontia and the Diprotodontia. It is supplementary to the account of the development of the pancreas, the pancreatic and hepatic ducts in Trichosurus, published in 1918. The development of the hepatic veins is shown to be subject to considerable variation in the different genera studied. On the other hand, the origin of the postcaval appears to be essentially uniform throughout the group, and consequently I have been able to restrict my observations on its development mainly to one genus, viz., Dasyurus. I take this opportunity of stating that I have confirmed in all respects Prof. J. P. Hill’s unpublished observations on the development of the postcaval and associated veins in Perameles. The material examined belongs to Prof. Hill’s collection of Marsupials and the descriptive details of embryos and pouch-young are taken from his note-books.