Liver (Anatomy, Histology and Functions)
Location:
The liver is the largest gland in our body that weighs between 1 to 2.3 kg in a healthy adult.
It is situated in the abdominal cavity in the upper right part just below the diaphragm.
Its upper and anterior surfaces are smooth and lie in close association with the posterior surface of the
diaphragm while its posterior surface is irregular in outline.
The liver is enclosed in a thin capsule and completely covered by a thin fold of peritoneum
called falciparum ligament which attaches the liver to the diaphragm to keep it in proper position.
Structure:
The liver is made up of two major lobes; left and right lobes which are joined together by falciparum
ligament.
The left lobe is smaller and forms about one sixth of the liver. The right lobe is much larger and further
incompletely divided by shallow fissures into three lobes;
the larges right lobe proper,
a small four sided caudate lobe and
a small oblong quadrate lobe.
To the posterior surface of liver in between the right central and quadrate lobes, is attached a pear-
shaped sac-like structure called gall bladder.
Gall bladder is dark green in color with a thin wall that stores the secretions of liver like bile.
A large cystic duct arises from the gall bladder which receives several small hepatic ducts from different
lobes of the liver carrying bile.
A large cystic duct from gall bladder and hepatic ducts from liver collectively form a large common bile
duct which opens into the proximal part of the duodenum in the small intestine. The opening is guarded
by a sphincter.
Location:
The liver is the largest gland in our body that weighs between 1 to 2.3 kg in a healthy adult.
It is situated in the abdominal cavity in the upper right part just below the diaphragm.
Its upper and anterior surfaces are smooth and lie in close association with the posterior surface of the
diaphragm while its posterior surface is irregular in outline.
The liver is enclosed in a thin capsule and completely covered by a thin fold of peritoneum
called falciparum ligament which attaches the liver to the diaphragm to keep it in proper position.
Structure:
The liver is made up of two major lobes; left and right lobes which are joined together by falciparum
ligament.
The left lobe is smaller and forms about one sixth of the liver. The right lobe is much larger and further
incompletely divided by shallow fissures into three lobes;
the larges right lobe proper,
a small four sided caudate lobe and
a small oblong quadrate lobe.
To the posterior surface of liver in between the right central and quadrate lobes, is attached a pear-
shaped sac-like structure called gall bladder.
Gall bladder is dark green in color with a thin wall that stores the secretions of liver like bile.
A large cystic duct arises from the gall bladder which receives several small hepatic ducts from different
lobes of the liver carrying bile.
A large cystic duct from gall bladder and hepatic ducts from liver collectively form a large common bile
duct which opens into the proximal part of the duodenum in the small intestine. The opening is guarded
by a sphincter.
