The liver is a large, reddish brown, soft gland located in the upper right quadrant of the abdominal cavity. It weighs approximately 1600 grams in males and 1400 grams in females. The liver has five surfaces - anterior, posterior, superior, inferior, and right. It also has one prominent inferior border that separates the anterior surface from the inferior surface. The liver consists of two lobes, the right lobe and left lobe, separated by ligaments and fissures. The liver performs important metabolic functions like carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism as well as detoxification.

1. LIVER
LARGE, SOLID GLAND THAT IS SITUATED IN THE RIGHT UPPER QUADRANT OF THE ABDOMINAL
CAVITY. IT IS REDDISH BROWN IN COLOUR, SOFT IN CONSISTENCY, VERY FRIABLE. IT WEIGHS ABOUT
1600GRAMS IN MALES AND 1400GRAMS IN FEMALES.
By- Achal Sharma

2. LOCATION
 It covers the entire Right
Hypochondrium, Greater
part of Epigastrium, Small
Part of Left
Hypochondrium reaching
up to the Lateral Line.
 From above it is covered
by Ribs and Costal
Cartilages except in the
upper part of epigastrium
where it is in contact with
the anterior Abdominal
Wall.

3. SURFACES OF LIVER
 Liver has 5 surfaces –
1. Anterior
2. Posterior
3. Superior
4. Inferior
5. Right
 Out of these Inferior surface is well defined as it is clearly demarcated, anteriorly,
by a sharp inferior border.

4. ONE PROMINENT
BORDER
 The inferior border is sharp anteriorly and
separates the anterior surface from inferior
surface.
 Laterally is rounded where it separates the right
surface from inferior surface.
 The sharp anterior surface is marked by-
a) An Interlobular Notch or the
notch for ligamentum teres.
b) A cystic Notch for the fundus of
the gall bladder.
 In the Epigastrium, the inferior border extends
from the left 8th costal cartilage to the right 9th
costal cartilage.

5. TWO LOBES OF LIVER
 Liver consists of two lobes: Right Lobe and Left Lobe by the attachments of falciform ligament
anteriorly and superiorly, by the fissure of ligamentum teres inferiorly and by the fissure of
ligamentum venosum posteriorly.
 Caudate lobe – situated on the Posterior Surface. It is bounded by groove for inferior vena cava on
the Right, by fissure for ligamentum venosum on the Left and inferiorly by porta hepatis.
 Quadrate lobe – situated inferiorly and is bounded by inferior order anteriorly, porta hepatis
posteriorly, fossa for gall bladder to the right and fissure for ligamentum teres to the left.
 Porta hepatis – it is a 5cm long fissure, present on the Right lobe of the liver and
is between caudate and quadrate lobe.
- the Portal Vein, Hepatic Artery, Hepatic Plexus of Nerves enter it
and the Right and Left Hepatic Duct and few Lymphatics leave it.

6. BLOOD SUPPLY
 80% of blood is received by Portal Vein and 20% is Received via Hepatic artery.
 Before entering the liver, both hepatic artery and portal vein divide into two
branches : Right and Left. These branches further divide to form Segmental
vessels which further divide to form interlobular vessels.
 Further Ramification of Interlobular Branches open into Hepatic Sinusoids. Thus
the arterial blood mixes with the portal venous blood in Sinusoids.

7. VENOUS DRAINAGE
Hepatic Sinusoids
Interlobular Veins
Sublobular Veins
Hepatic Veins
Inferior Vena Cava

8. FUNCTIONS OF LIVER
 Metabolism of Carbohydrates, Fats and Proteins.
 Excretion of Toxins, Bile Pigments, Cholesterol, Heavy Metals.
 Synthesis of Bile and Prothrombin.
 Storage of Glycogen, Iron, Fat, Vitamin A and D.
 Protective by Conjugation, Phagocytosis, Antibody Formation and Excretion.

9. It’s Over! 