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. fissure of
ligamentum teres
(round ligament)
2. 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
4. Hepatic ducts
5. Lymphatic vessels
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………………..