Where is the liver located in the body?
Your liver is located on the upper right side of your abdomen, under the right ribcage. It sits above your stomach, below your lungs, and besides the pancreas, gallbladder, intestines. You can determine the exact location of the liver using the following three methods. 1. The Surrounding Organs The liver is composed of the left lobe and right lobe.
Is the liver on the right or left side?
The liver is a large, meaty organ that sits on the right side of the belly. The liver has two large sections, called the right and the left lobes.
What quadrant is the liver located in?
The liver is situated in the upper right and left quadrants. Maximum part lies in the right quadrant. Hence, the pain related to liver disorders will mainly occur in the right upper quadrant. Image 2: Regions of Abdomen. The abdomen is divided into nine regions.
What are the main functions of the liver?
What is the function of the liver?
- Filtration. Filtration is one of the liver’s most important functions. ...
- Digestion. Digestion refers to the process of breaking down and absorbing nutrients from food. ...
- Metabolism and Detoxification. ...
- Protein synthesis. ...
- Storage of vitamins & minerals. ...
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What is the anatomical structure of liver?
Parts That Make Up The Liver The liver has two lobes — the right and the left. Each lobe is made up of thousands of hexagonally-shaped lobules. These lobules are very small. Each lobule is made up of numerous liver cells, called hepatocytes, that line up in radiating rows.
What is the anatomical position of the heart and liver?
The heart is located in left chest while the liver is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. For this reason, there are two terms which could be used to describe the location of the heart in relation to the liver. The heart is superior to the liver.
Where is the liver located in directional terms?
The liver is lateral/to the right of the stomach. The liver is inferior to the lungs.
What is the surface anatomy of liver?
The surface of the liver is covered by visceral peritoneum (serosa), with a Glisson capsule underneath. At the porta hepatis, the Glisson capsule travels along the portal tracts (triads), carrying branches of the hepatic artery, the portal vein, and the bile ducts into the liver substance.
Is the liver in the chest or abdomen?
The abdomen is the area of the body between the chest and pelvis. Some of the large internal organs comprised in this area are the liver, stomach, kidneys, and intestines.
What are the 4 main anatomical positions?
Anatomically, there are four main positions: supine, prone, right lateral recumbent, and left lateral recumbent.
What is anatomical position of the body?
Anatomical position, or standard anatomical position, refers to the specific body orientation used when describing an individual's anatomy. Standard anatomical position of the human body consists of the body standing upright and facing forward with the legs parallel to one another.
What directional term is the liver to the small intestine?
caudal14. The intestines are caudal to the liver.
How do you remember anatomical positions?
SummaryLink the word to the structure by creating a mental picture.Find the meaning of the word.Break the word down and make it recognisable for yourself by using tip number 2...Create your own abbreviations, songs, poems, acronyms etc.Use flashcards, either in print commercial, online or homemade.
Where is the liver located in relation to ribs?
The liver is located under the ribs on the right hand side of the body. It lies just below the lungs, under the top of the diaphragm to which it is attached. The diaphragm is the muscle beneath the lungs which regulates our breathing. The liver is partly protected by the rib cage.
What are the four anatomical lobes of the liver?
Anatomically the liver has four lobes: right, left, caudate, and quadrate. The quadrate lobe is located on the inferior surface of the right lobe. The caudate lobe is located between the left and right lobes in an anterior and superior location.
How far is the liver from the skin?
In general, accuracy when compared to liver biopsy is higher when the interquartile range-median velocity ratio (IMR) is <0.3, and the skin-liver distance (SLD) is <2.5 cm.
Is the liver distal to the heart?
For example, the heart is superior to the liver and the liver is inferior to the heart.
Is the liver located under the heart?
The liver is located under the ribs on the right hand side of the body. It lies just below the lungs, under the top of the diaphragm to which it is attached. The diaphragm is the muscle beneath the lungs which regulates our breathing.
How do I know if I have damaged my liver?
As the liver becomes more severely damaged, more obvious and serious symptoms can develop, such as: yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice) swelling in the legs, ankles and feet caused by a build-up of fluid (oedema) swelling in your abdomen caused by a build-up of fluid known as ascites.
What is the relationship between the heart and the liver?
Anatomically and physiologically, the liver and heart are connected with each other primarily via “blood circulation.” Pathologically, liver diseases can affect the heart; for example, patients with end-stage liver disease (liver failure/cirrhosis) may develop into “cirrhotic cardiomyopathy,” and nonalcoholic fatty ...
Where is the liver located?
Liver. The liver is a large essential organ found in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. It is a multifunctional accessory to the gastrointestinal tract and performs such duties as detoxification, protein synthesis, biochemical production and nutrient storage to name but a few.
What is the liver covered by?
It works synchronously with many other organs and contributes to the maintenance of the basic homeostatic mechanisms. It is completely covered by visceral peritoneum, with the exception of the bare area, which is where the liver is in contact with the diaphragm. Key facts. Function.
What is the function of portal vein?
Vascularization. Functional: portal vein (metabolic processing of the matters absorbed in intestines) Nutritive: hepatic artery (supplying the tissue of the liver with oxygen and nutrients) Drainage: hepatic vein -> inferior vena cava -> right atrium. Innervation.
Why is the liver considered a special organ?
The liver is a special organ in the sense that it receives more venous blood than arterial blood and this is due to the fact that the liver helps clean the blood via detoxification. The majority of the vascular supply is brought into the organ by the portal vein which carries the blood filled with metabolytes absorbed in the intestines, whereas the rest of the blood comes from the common hepatic artery which originates from the celiac trunk and carries the oxygenated blood to the liver.
Why is the liver important?
The liver is a special organ in the sense that it receives more venous blood than arterial blood and this is due to the fact that the liver helps clean the blood via detoxification. The majority of the vascular supply is brought into the organ by the portal vein which carries the blood filled with metabolytes absorbed in the intestines, whereas the rest of the blood comes from the common hepatic artery which originates from the celiac trunk and carries the oxygenated blood to the liver.
What is the left triangular ligament?
Left triangular ligament - is a mix of the falciform ligament and the lesser omentum. Falciform ligament - is not of embryological origin, but a peritoneal reflection of the upper abdominal wall from the umbilicus to the liver and has the round ligament of the liver on its free edge.
Where does lymphatic drainage go?
The deep system consists of hepatic lymph vessels which follow the hepatic portal veins, therefore most of the lymph will flow towards the hepatic nodes at the hilum of the liver, which drain to the celiac nodes.
What is the liver attached to?
This bare area of the liver is attached to the diaphragm by flimsy fibroareolar tissue. The coronary ligament lies anterior and posterior to the bare area of the liver comprised of peritoneal reflections of the diaphragm . These areas converge to the left and right of the liver to form the left and right triangular ligaments, respectively. The right coronary and right triangular ligaments course posterior and caudally toward the right kidney, attaching the liver to the retroperitoneum. All attachments help fixate the liver within the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. During hepatic surgery, mobilization of the liver requires division of these avascular attachments. In upper abdominal surgery, the liver has close associations with many structures and organs.
What is the relationship between the liver and the stomach?
3). The stomach is related to the left hepatic lobe by way of the gastrohepatic ligament or superior aspect of the lesser omentum, which is an attachment of connective tissue between the lesser curvature of the stomach and the left hepatic lobe at the ligamentum venosum. Important neural and vascular structures may run within the gastrohepatic ligament, including the hepatic division of the vagus nerve and, when present, an aberrant left hepatic artery as it courses from its left gastric artery origin. The hepatic flexure of the colon where the ascending colon transitions to the transverse colon is in close proximity or sometimes in direct contact with the right hepatic lobe. Additionally, the duodenum and portal structures are in direct association with the liver through the hepatoduodenal ligament (inferior aspect of the lesser omentum) and porta hepatis.
What is the portal anatomy?
Anatomic understanding of the portal anatomy is essential to hepatic resection and associated vascular and biliary reconstructions. Within the porta hepatis is the common bile duct, hepatic artery, and portal vein that course in a lateral, medial, and posterior configuration, respectively. The foramen of Winslow (epiploic foramen) has important relevance to the porta hepatis and hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgery. The foramen of Winslow, originally described by the Danish anatomist Jacob Winslow in 1732, is a communication or connection between the abdominal cavity and the lesser sac. During hepatic resection, need for complete control of the hepatic vascular inflow may be accomplished by a Pringle maneuver.5,6This maneuver, developed by an Australian surgeon, James Hogarth Pringle, while in Glasgow, Scotland, during the management of hepatic trauma, involves occlusion of the hepatic artery and portal vein inflow through control of the porta hepatis. This may be done by placement of a large clamp on the porta hepatis or more atraumatically with the use of a tourniquet passed through the foramen of Winslow and pars flaccida (transparent portion of lesser omentum overlying caudate lobe) encircling the porta hepatis.
What is the relationship between the IVC and the hepatic lobe?
The IVC maintains an intimate relationship to the caudate lobe and right hepatic lobe by IVC ligaments.4These caval ligaments are bridges of broad membranous tissue that are extensions of the Glisson capsule from the caudate and right hepatic lobe. Of surgical importance, these ligaments are not simple connective tissue but rather contain components of hepatic parenchyma, including the portal triads and hepatocytes. Hence, during liver mobilization, these ligaments must be controlled in a surgical manner to avoid unnecessary bleeding or bile leakage during hepatic surgery.
What is the ligamentum teres?
Within the lower edge of the falciform ligament is the ligamentum teres (round ligament), a remnant of the obliterated umbilical vein (ductus venosus) that travels from the umbilicus into the umbilical fissure where it is in continuity with the ligamentum venosum as it joins the left branch of the portal vein. The ligamentum venosum lies within a fissure on the inferior surface of the liver between the caudate lobe posteriorly and the left lobe anteriorly, where it is also invested by the peritoneal folds of the lesser omentum (gastrohepatic ligament). During fetal life, the ductus venosus is responsible for shunting a majority of blood flow of the umbilical vein directly into the IVC, transporting oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus. After birth, the umbilical vein closes as the physiologic neonatal circulation begins. In the presence of portal hypertension, the umbilical vein may recanalize to allow portasystemic collateralization through the abdominal wall, known as caput medusae.
How does the liver drain?
The venous drainage of the liver is through the intrahepatic veins that ultimately coalesce into three hepatic veins that drain into the IVC superiorly. The left and middle hepatic veins may drain directly into the IVC but more commonly form a short common trunk before draining into the IVC. The right hepatic vein is typically larger, with a short extrahepatic course and drains directly into the IVC. Additional drainage occurs directly into the IVC via short retrohepatic veins and, on occasion, an inferior right accessory hepatic vein. The hepatic veins within the parenchyma are unique in that, unlike the portal venous system, they lack the fibrous, protective, encasing the Glisson capsule.9Ultrasonography facilitates intraoperative mapping of the internal anatomy of the liver. As seen in Fig. 9, by ultrasound, the portal venous anatomy can readily be identified by the echogenic, hyperechoic Glisson capsule surrounding the portal veins, whereas the hepatic veins lack this.
What is the liver's lymphatic network?
The liver possesses a superficial and deep lymphatic network through which lymph produced in the liver drains.7The deep network is responsible for greater lymphatic drainage toward lateral phrenic nodes via the hepatic veins and toward the hilum through portal vein branches. The superficial network is located within the Glisson capsule with an anterior and posterior surface. The anterior surface primarily drains to phrenic lymph nodes via the bare area of the liver to join the mediastinal and internal mammary lymphatic networks. The posterior surface network drains to hilar lymph nodes, including the cystic duct, common bile duct, hepatic artery, and peripancreatic as well as pericardial and celiac lymph nodes. The lymphatic drainage patterns have surgical implications with regard to lymphadenectomy undertaken for cancer of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.
Where is the liver located?
In simplest terms, it can be said that the liver is located on the right side of the abdominal cavity, just below the diaphragm . In scientific terms, it is said to be located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity. The gallbladder is located to the exact back side of the liver in the human body.
What is the role of the liver in the body?
The liver plays an important role in converting glucose to glycogen, and also in the formation of certain amino acids. In short, it aids in production of energy in the body. Among the several liver functions, secretion of chemicals essential for digestion is the most important one.
What are the diseases of the liver?
Whereas, cirrhosis is caused due to excess consumption of alcohol, for a long period. Similarly, alcoholic fatty liver and liver damage are conditions caused due to excessive alcohol consumption. On the other hand, infections like hepatitis A, B, C, and E, jaundice, etc., are some of the diseases associated with the liver. It is found that certain medications, like cancer medications, can lead to liver damage. Most of these condition can be treated if symptoms are detected at an early stage.
How to prevent liver disease?
Maintaining a Healthy Liver. Avoiding alcohol and fatty foods are the measures that can be undertaken for the prevention of liver diseases. Secondly, if you wish to maintain a healthy liver, you should also avoid use of drugs, as they can be toxic to the liver and deteriorate it in a short time.
How much does the liver weigh?
It is also considered as one of the largest internal organs in the body. It weighs approximately 1.5 kg (a couple of grams over and under may also be found) or 3.2 lb. The Greek word for liver is hēpar; therefore, terms related to the liver start with ‘hepatic’ (like hepatitis, hepatoma, hepatology, etc.)
What is the most important organ in the body?
The liver is one of the most important organs in the body. So, it is natural for you to be curious about the location and functions of the liver. Here we will take a detailed look on the placement of the liver, its functions, and also about the diseases associated with it.
What are the functions of the liver?
It produces chemicals that help in breaking down fats. Secondly, it absorbs all the essential vitamins and helps in the production of cholesterol in the body. Functions of the liver also include formation of bile, cleaning of the bloodstream, detoxification, as well as keeping off disease-causing pathogens.
Where is the liver located?
The liver’s position is mostly in the right upper portion of the stomach, just below the diaphragm. A portion of the liver goes into the left upper abdomen as well.
What is the function of the liver?
These include: The liver does this by receiving blood with nutrients from the digestive organs via a vein known as the portal vein. The many cells of the liver, known as hepatocytes, accept and filter this blood.
What is the condition where scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue?
Cirrhosis is a condition where scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue. A number of conditions can cause cirrhosis. These include long-term excessive alcohol use, chronic hepatitis, or rare genetic disorders, such as Wilson’s disease.
How long does it take for the liver to regenerate after a partial liver removal?
The liver has been known to regenerate completely after as many as 12 partial liver removal surgeries.
How does the liver grow back?
The liver starts growing back by having the existing cells enlarge. Then, new liver cells start to multiply.
What is the largest organ in the body?
Your liver is your body’s largest solid organ. On average, it weighs around 3 pounds in adulthood and is roughly the size of a football. This organ is vital to the body’s metabolic functions and immune system. Without a functioning liver, a person cannot survive. The liver’s position is mostly in the right upper portion of the stomach, ...
How many lobes are there in the liver?
The liver has two main portions, or lobes. Each lobe is further divided into eight segments. Each segment has an estimated 1,000 lobules, or small lobes. Each of these lobules has a small tube (duct) that flows toward the common hepatic duct.
What is the liver?
The liver is reddish-brown and shaped approximately like a cone or a wedge, with the small end above the spleen and stomach and the large end above the small intestine. The entire organ is located below the lungs in the right upper abdomen. It weighs between 3 and 3.5 pounds.
What are the functions of the liver?
The liver is an essential organ of the body that performs over 500 vital functions. These include removing waste products and foreign substances from the bloodstream, regulating blood sugar levels, and creating essential nutrients. Here are some of its most important functions: 1 Albumin Production: Albumin is a protein that keeps fluids in the bloodstream from leaking into surrounding tissue. It also carries hormones, vitamins, and enzymes through the body. 2 Bile Production: Bile is a fluid that is critical to the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine. 3 Filters Blood: All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver, which removes toxins, byproducts, and other harmful substances. 4 Regulates Amino Acids: The production of proteins depend on amino acids. The liver makes sure amino acid levels in the bloodstream remain healthy. 5 Regulates Blood Clotting: Blood clotting coagulants are created using vitamin K, which can only be absorbed with the help of bile, a fluid the liver produces. 6 Resists Infections: As part of the filtering process, the liver also removes bacteria from the bloodstream. 7 Stores Vitamins and Minerals: The liver stores significant amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, as well as iron and copper. 8 Processes Glucose: The liver removes excess glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and stores it as glycogen. As needed, it can convert glycogen back into glucose.
How many lobes are there in the liver?
The liver consists of four lobes: the larger right lobe and left lobe, and the smaller caudate lobe and quadrate lobe. The left and right lobe are divided by the falciform (“sickle-shaped” in Latin) ligament, which connects the liver to the abdominal wall. The liver’s lobes can be further divided into eight segments, which are made up of thousands of lobules (small lobes). Each of these lobules has a duct flowing toward the common hepatic duct, which drains bile from the liver.
What does the liver store?
Stores Vitamins and Minerals: The liver stores significant amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, as well as iron and copper. Processes Glucose: The liver removes excess glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and stores it as glycogen. As needed, it can convert glycogen back into glucose.
What is the function of albumin in the body?
Albumin Production: Albumin is a protein that keeps fluids in the bloodstream from leaking into surrounding tissue. It also carries hormones, vitamins, and enzymes through the body. Bile Production: Bile is a fluid that is critical to the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine.
Which ligament separates the two lobes of the liver and connects it to the abdominal wall?
Falciform Ligament: A thin, fibrous ligament that separates the two lobes of the liver and connects it to the abdominal wall. Glisson’s Capsule: A layer of loose connective tissue that surrounds the liver and its related arteries and ducts.
What is the phone number for liver disease?
If you need help for a liver condition, give us a call at (877) LIVER MD/ (877) 548-3763 or get in touch using our online request form.
Where is the liver located?
The liver is an intraperitoneal organ found inferior to the diaphragm and deep to the 7th to 11th ribs. The location of the liver is such that you just can’t miss it, as it spans through three abdominal regions; right hypochondriac, epigastric and left hypochondriac.
Which organ is found inferiorly to the liver?
The gallbladder is found inferiorly to the liver, being involved in the storage and release of bile into the duodenum.
What are the two organs that help with digestion?
The liver and gallbladder are the two accessory organs of the gastrointestinal tract, which carry out a multifunctional role that aids digestion and homeostasis. The liver consists of several lobes and receives its blood supply mainly from the hepatic portal vein. This organ also detoxifies the body, so take good care of it because it is your best friend while celebrating after your exams!
What are the microscopic structures of the liver parenchyma?
The microscopic anatomy of the liver parenchyma is represented by the hepatic lobules. They consist of cords of hepatocytes surrounding a central vein . Sinusoids and portal triads are also part of the hepatic lobules.
What are the two surfaces of the liver?
The liver has two surfaces; diaphragmatic and visceral. The surfaces show several fissures, which together with the ligaments divide the liver into four lobes: 1 Left and right lobes, separated by the falciform ligament 2 Caudate and quadrate lobes, delimited by the fissures of the visceral surface
Which duct is responsible for the flow of bile and pancreatic juice?
The common bile duct unites with the pancreatic duct to form the ampulla of Vater (hepatopancreatic ampulla), which opens into the duodenum on the major duodenal papilla. The flow of bile and pancreatic juice is controlled by the sphincter of Oddi. Anatomy of the biliary system and gallbladder location: Anterior view.
How many lobes does the liver have?
The liver has two surfaces; diaphragmatic and visceral. The surfaces show several fissures, which together with the ligaments divide the liver into four lobes: Left and right lobes, separated by the falciform ligament. Caudate and quadrate lobes, delimited by the fissures of the visceral surface.
What is the term for the damage to the liver?
Cirrhosis . Cirrhosis of the liver describes damage to the organ that results in permanent scarring. According to doctors from the National Health Service (NHS), the early symptoms of cirrhosis are not noticeable. However, when the liver becomes more damaged, you may feel pain and tenderness around the liver area. 6.
What does it mean when your liver hurts?
Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that some of the symptoms of liver disease are abdominal pain and swelling, skin with a yellowish appearance, swelling around your an kles, and a tendency to bruise easily. 4
Why does hemochromatosis cause liver pain?
This can lead to liver pain because the liver swells and becomes damaged and scarred.
Why does my liver hurt?
Doctors on MedicineNet say that pain from the liver is caused when the thin layer of tissues surrounding the liver becomes stretched.
How do you know if you have liver cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, the common symptoms of liver cancer are unexplained weight loss, pain in the abdomen or in the right shoulder blade, swelling in the abdomen, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin). You may even be able to feel the swollen liver under your right ribs. 11.
Can alcohol cause liver pain?
Dr. Melinda Ratini on WebMD says that hepatitis can also be caused by drinking too much alcohol. 7
Can drinking too much alcohol cause fatty liver?
Alcoholic fatty liver disease is caused by drinking too much alcohol. Dr. Blahd says that even a short period of binge drinking can cause fatty liver disease. 5 You may even feel pain in your liver after an episode of heavy drinking.
Overview
- Your liver is your body’s largest solid organ. The liver location is mostly in the right upper portio…
On average, the liver weighs around 3 pounds in adulthood and is roughly the size of a football. - This organ is vital to the body’s metabolic functions and immune system. Without a functioning l…
What is the structure of the liver?
Autoimmune hepatitis
- Autoimmune hepatitis causes the body’s immune system to attack itself and destroy healthy liver tissue. Autoimmune hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and other liver damage.
Biliary atresia
- Biliary atresia is a condition that affects the bile ducts and bile flow in newborns. The bile ducts i…
The condition can be congenital or occur as a result of inflammation. It usually requires surgery and in many cases a liver transplant.
Hemochromatosis
- Hemochromatosis causes an excess of iron to build up in the body. Too much iron can damage …
Primary hemochromatosis is usually caused by genetic disorders that interfere with the production of red blood cells. - Secondary hemochromatosis is caused by consuming too much iron in your diet or from a bloo…
Other causes can include liver failure, or hepatitis B or C.
Hepatitis A
- Viral hepatitis refers to a viral infection that causes liver inflammation. The hepatitis types have …
Hepatitis A is more common in regions that lack clean drinking water and have poor sanitation systems. Most people can recover from hepatitis A without liver failure or long-term complications.
Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis B can cause a short- or long-term infection. In adults in the United States, the disease i…
The condition can cause serious complications, including liver failure and cancer. There’s a vaccination against the disease to prevent it.
Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis C can be an acute or chronic infection. It’s most commonly spread by coming in conta…
Unprotected sexual contact with a person who carries the virus can transmit the infection, too. But, this is a less common occurrence.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and NASH
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat builds up in the liver. An excess of fat …
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that causes scarring or fibrosis. People who carry extra weight and have conditions related to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, are more likely to have this disease.
Liver cancer
- If cancer develops in the liver, it destroys cells and affects the liver’s normal function. Liver canc…
People with cirrhosis have a very high risk of developing liver cancer.
Cirrhosis and liver failure
- Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition where scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue. This causes a …
A number of conditions can cause cirrhosis. These include long-term excessive alcohol use, chronic hepatitis, or rare genetic disorders, such as Wilson’s disease. - Cirrhosis may also cause high pressure in the liver’s portal vein, leading to a condition called por…
The abdomen may become swollen and painful. Ascites can also cause edema, which is the swelling of the legs and ankles. If ascites become infected, it is called spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, a condition that can be fatal if it isn’t treated.
Alcoholic liver disease
- Alcoholic liver disease is a metabolic condition affecting the liver. It is caused by prolonged and …
accumulation of fat in the liver cells - The type of alcohol doesn’t affect whether you can develop the condition. What matters is the co…
Many liver disease conditions begin with flu-like symptoms and progress to more severe signs of liver damage, such as jaundice and dark-colored urine.