The Liver

C.Masina

The Liver

The largest internal body organ

Largest gland
Largest organ apart from skin
Weighs about 1.5kg
Found in the upper abdominal cavity:
extends from right upper quadrant to left
upper quadrant of the abdomen
Attached to diaphragm by
falciform and coronary ligaments
Left and right triangular ligaments

Functions

Bile production and secretion

Detoxification
Storage of glycogen
Protein synthesis
Production of heparin and bile
pigments
Erythropoiesis (in fetus)

Liver surfaces
Divided into 2 anatomical regions:
1.Diaphragmatic surface:
Smooth and dome-shaped surface
Anterior liver part
Inferior to diaphragm
Separated from diaphragm by subphrenic
recess and from posterior organs {kidney
and suprarenal glands} by hepatorenal
recess
Covered by peritoneum except

1.Diaphragmatic surface

2. Visceral surface
Covered by visceral peritoneum
except porta hepatis and gall bladder
bed.

The visceral surface is related to:

Right side of the stomach i.e. gastric and pyloric
areas
Superior part of the duodenum i.e. duodenal area
Lesser omentum
Gall bladder
Right colic flexor
and right transverse area ; colic area
Right kidney
and suprarenal gland; Renal area

Posterior liver view

Liver lobes
Right and left lobe
Functionally independent
i.e. each with own blood
and nerve supply

Blood supply in by:

Hepatic artery
Portal vein

Blood out through:

Vein and
biliary drainage

Liver lobes
1.The Right lobe
Demarcated by :
1. Gall bladder
fossa
2.

Inferior vena
cava fossa

3.

Imaginary line
from fundus
of gall
bladder and
inferior vena
cava

Liver lobes

2. Left lobe
Divided into:
Medial and
lateral
segments
1.Medial
superior
caudate lobe
2.Medial
inferior quadrate
lobe

2. Left lobe cont

The lateral
segment is
separated from the
medial segments by:

On visceral
surface:
1.

2.

fissure of
ligamentum teres
(round ligament)
fissure of
ligamentum
venosum

On diaphragmatic
surface:
1.

Attachment of
falciform ligament

Visceral surface
1.

The round
ligament(ligamentum
teres) obliterated umbilical
vein
2. The ligamentum venosum
fibrous remnant of fetal
ductus vein
3. The Porta hepatis
(hepatic potal; portal
fissure) - transverse fissure
on the visceral surface of the
liver.
It gives passage to the:
1. Portal vein
2. Hepatic artery
3. Hepatic nerve
plexus

Peritoneal relations of the

Liver
The Lesser omentum
Encloses the portal triad (bile duct, hepatic artery
and portal vein )
Passes from the liver to lesser curvature of the
stomach + 2 cm of duodenum
Thick free edge -- hepatoduodenal ligament
Sheet like remainder hepatogastric ligament

To be continued .
To be continued..

To be continued..