The Liver

By Courtney and Larissa

Anatomical Structure & Location

• The liver is located in the upper abdomen to the right of the stomach and immediately below the diaphragm.

Structure• It is the largest gland in the body.• Can be identified by its triangular shape.• It is 20cm long and weighs 1.4-1.6kg. • It has 4 sections called lobes.• From the front the left and right lobes are visible.• Situated around the central blood vessels lobules

which are composed of hundreds of liver cells. • There are 2 blood vessels connected to the liver.

One is called the Portal Vein which brings nutrient rich blood straight from the heart.

• The second blood vessel is called the Hepatic artery which brings oxygen rich blood from the heart to the liver.

• Blood vessels divide into thousands of tiny branches that pump blood to individual parts of the liver.

Function• The liver has many major

functions, they are, to break down fats, convert glucose to glycogen, produce urea, make amino acids, filter harmful substances from the blood, it stores minerals and vitamins like B12. It also produces cholesterol. It produces bile, which is stored in the Gall bladder that is used to break down fats.

Useful Links

For further knowledge on the liver visit:• http://www.mamashealth.com/organs/liver.asp • http://www.livertransplantindia.com/about-liver.asp

Interative activity • http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072507470/

student_view0/chapter24/animation__organs_of_digestion.html

Video• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UpRFM5nrlo