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Liver

This article is about the organ. For other uses, see Liver (disambiguation).
Liver
The human liver is located in the upper right abdomen
Location of human liver (in red) shown on a male body
Details
PrecursorForegut
SystemDigestive system
ArteryHepatic artery
VeinHepatic vein and hepatic portal vein
NerveCeliac ganglia and vagus nerve[1]
Identifiers
Latinjecur, iecur
Greekhepar (ἧπαρ)
root hepat- (ἡπατ-)
MeSHD008099
TA98A05.8.01.001
TA23023
FMA7197
Anatomical terminology

The liver is a major metabolic organ exclusively found in vertebrate animals, which performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the synthesis of proteins and various other biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth.[2][3][4] In humans, it is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, below the diaphragm and mostly shielded by the lower right rib cage. Its other metabolic roles include carbohydrate metabolism, the production of hormones, conversion and storage of nutrients such as glucose and glycogen, and the decomposition of red blood cells.[4]

The liver is also an accessory digestive organ that produces bile, an alkaline fluid containing cholesterol and bile acids, which emulsifies and aids the breakdown of dietary fat. The gallbladder, a small hollow pouch that sits just under the right lobe of liver, stores and concentrates the bile produced by the liver, which is later excreted to the duodenum to help with digestion.[5] The liver's highly specialized tissue, consisting mostly of hepatocytes, regulates a wide variety of high-volume biochemical reactions, including the synthesis and breakdown of small and complex organic molecules, many of which are necessary for normal vital functions.[6] Estimates regarding the organ's total number of functions vary, but is generally cited as being around 500.[7] For this reason, the liver has sometimes been described as the body's chemical factory.[8][9]

It is not known how to compensate for the absence of liver function in the long term, although liver dialysis techniques can be used in the short term. Artificial livers have not been developed to promote long-term replacement in the absence of the liver. As of 2018,[10] liver transplantation is the only option for complete liver failure.

  1. ^ Nosek, Thomas M. "Section 6/6ch2/s6ch2_30". Essentials of Human Physiology. Archived from the original on 2016-03-24.
  2. ^ Elias, H.; Bengelsdorf, H. (1 July 1952). "The Structure of the Liver in Vertebrates". Cells Tissues Organs. 14 (4): 297–337. doi:10.1159/000140715. PMID 14943381.
  3. ^ Abdel-Misih, Sherif R.Z.; Bloomston, Mark (2010). "Liver Anatomy". Surgical Clinics of North America. 90 (4): 643–653. doi:10.1016/j.suc.2010.04.017. PMC 4038911. PMID 20637938.
  4. ^ a b "Anatomy and physiology of the liver – Canadian Cancer Society". Cancer.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  5. ^ Tortora, Gerard J.; Derrickson, Bryan H. (2008). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (12th ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 945. ISBN 978-0-470-08471-7.
  6. ^ Maton, Anthea; Jean Hopkins; Charles William McLaughlin; Susan Johnson; Maryanna Quon Warner; David LaHart; Jill D. Wright (1993). Human Biology and Health. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA: Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-981176-0. OCLC 32308337.
  7. ^ Zakim, David; Boyer, Thomas D. (2002). Hepatology: A Textbook of Liver Disease (4th ed.). ISBN 9780721690513.
  8. ^ Basics, Liver. "VA.gov | Veterans Affairs". www.hepatitis.va.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  9. ^ "Function of the Liver". UPMC | Life Changing Medicine. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
  10. ^ Liver Anatomy at eMedicine

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