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

Learn about the location and structure of the human liver, including its placement in the abdominal cavity, weight, and divisions into lobes and segments. Also, explore the liver's blood supply from the hepatic artery and portal vein.