AISIM Liver

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What's that ?

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What's that

The liver is a large glandular organ which is involved in a lot of metabolisms.

Situation: right hypochondriac and epigastric regions

Average weight: about 1.5 kg (postmortem)

Average size: length of about 28 cm (transverse direction), height of about 16 cm and greatest thickness of about 8 cm .

Structure: The liver has a fibrous coat, the so-called Glisson's capsule. The parenchyma is composed mainly of cells, biliary ducts and blood vessels. Three blood systems may be defined: the internal portal supply, which conveys the blood coming from the digestive tract, the hepatic arterial tree and collecting venous network.

Configuration and environment: The upper surface, covered by peritoneum, is divided into 2 parts by the suspensory ligament. The lower surface is connected with the gall-blader, the stomach, the duodenum,the right kidney and the right part of the transverse colon. These organs give impressions on the liver surface. The posterior border is connected to the diaphragm by the coronary ligament. It is in relation with the aorta and the inferior vena cava. The anterior border is thin, sharp and free. The right extremity is thick and rounded while the left one is thin and flattened.

The number 5:

• 5 ligaments with 4 composed of a double layer of peritoneum:
  the broad suspensory- or falsiform ligament,
  the lateral ligaments,
  the coronary ligament and
  the round ligament which is the obliterated umbilical vein.
  
• 5 fissures, more or less well defined, divides superficially the liver into 5 lobes.
  Note that there no structure inside the liver parenchyma which may determine actual lobes.
• 5 vessel types: the hepatic artery, the portal vein, the hepatic veins, the lymphatics and the hepatic duct.

More details

Further informations on the liver can be found at the Canadian Liver Fundation.