The liver is the largest internal organ, weighing about 1.5 kg, located in the upper abdominal cavity and functions in bile production, detoxification, glycogen storage, and protein synthesis. It has two anatomical regions: a smooth diaphragmatic surface and a visceral surface related to various organs. The liver consists of right and left lobes, each with independent blood and nerve supply, and notable features include the porta hepatis, which serves as a passage for key blood vessels and ducts.

1. The Liver
C.Masina

2. 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

3. Functions
• Bile production and secretion
• Detoxification
• Storage of glycogen
• Protein synthesis
• Production of heparin and bile pigments
• Erythropoiesis (in fetus)

4. 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

5. 1.Diaphragmatic surface

6. 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

7. Posterior liver view

8. 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

9. 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

10. Liver lobes
2. Left lobe
Divided into:
Medial and lateral
segments
1.Medial superior
– caudate lobe
2.Medial inferior
- quadrate lobe

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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• To be continued………………..
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