Human Liver: Location and Structure

Liver Location and Structure

• Located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm
• Weighs approximately 3 pounds (1.4 kg) in adults
• Divided into two main lobes: right lobe and left lobe
• Right lobe is larger and has four segments: anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral
• Left lobe has two segments: medial and lateral

Blood Supply

• Receives blood from two main sources:
  • Hepatic artery: oxygenated blood from the aorta
  • Portal vein: nutrient-rich blood from the digestive tract
• Blood from the hepatic artery and portal vein mix in the hepatic sinusoids

Liver Function

• Filtration: removes toxins, waste products, and excess nutrients from the blood
• Metabolism: regulates carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism
• Storage: stores glycogen, vitamins, and minerals
• Production: produces bile, proteins, and clotting factors

Hepatic Lobules

• Functional units of the liver, consisting of:
  • Hepatocytes (liver cells)
  • Hepatic sinusoids (blood vessels)
  • Bile canaliculi (bile ducts)
• Lobules are organized into hexagonal structures, with a central vein and peripheral portal triads

Bile Ducts and Gallbladder

• Bile produced by hepatocytes is collected in bile canaliculi and flows into:
  • Right and left hepatic ducts
  • Common hepatic duct
  • Cystic duct (connects to the gallbladder)
• Gallbladder stores and concentrates bile, which is released into the small intestine through the common bile duct

Liver Location and Structure

• Located beneath the diaphragm in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity
• Weighs approximately 3 pounds (1.4 kg) in adults
• Composed of two main lobes: right lobe and left lobe
• Right lobe is larger and divided into four segments: anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral
• Left lobe is smaller and divided into two segments: medial and lateral

Blood Supply

• Receives blood from two sources: hepatic artery and portal vein
• Hepatic artery provides oxygenated blood from the aorta
• Portal vein provides nutrient-rich blood from the digestive tract
• Blood from both sources mixes in the hepatic sinusoids

Liver Function

• Responsible for filtration, removing toxins, waste products, and excess nutrients from the blood
• Regulates carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism
• Stores glycogen, vitamins, and minerals
• Produces bile, proteins, and clotting factors

Hepatic Lobules

• Functional units of the liver, consisting of hepatocytes, hepatic sinusoids, and bile canaliculi
• Lobules are organized into hexagonal structures with a central vein and peripheral portal triads
• Hepatocytes are liver cells responsible for metabolic and detoxification functions
• Hepatic sinusoids are blood vessels that allow for exchange between blood and liver cells
• Bile canaliculi are small ducts that collect bile from hepatocytes

Bile Ducts and Gallbladder

• Bile produced by hepatocytes flows into bile canaliculi and then into right and left hepatic ducts
• Right and left hepatic ducts merge to form the common hepatic duct
• Common hepatic duct is connected to the gallbladder through the cystic duct
• Gallbladder stores and concentrates bile
• Bile is released into the small intestine through the common bile duct