The Anatomy of the Liver

Location, function, and liver conditions

Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD

The liver is located in the upper right of the abdomen. This organ can be found below the rib cage and above the stomach, kidney, and intestines. The liver is located in the same place for people of any sex. However, the organ may be heavier and larger in males.

Some of the conditions that affect the liver include hepatitis, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, cholangitis, drug-induced liver disease, and cancer.

This article will cover the location of the liver, some potential normal variations, liver diseases and conditions, and which tests can look for liver problems.

Locating Position of the Liver on Right Side of Body

The liver is the largest internal organ, weighing about 3 pounds. It is located on the right side of the body, under the rib cage.

Part of the liver extends through the middle of the abdomen and slightly into the left side of the abdomen. It is larger on the side that is farthest to the right and becomes narrower as it extends to the left side of the abdomen.

The liver might be felt in the area of the abdomen under the right rib cage. A liver affected by a disorder or disease could be tender. There's also the potential for enlargement or a mass on the liver to be felt in this way.

Liver Size in Males and Females

The liver varies in average size between adult males and females. On average, it has a wider span and weighs more in an adult male than an adult female. However, for individuals, it will vary by body size and other factors.

Structure

The liver has two lobes: the larger one on the right side and the smaller one on the left side. Each lobe is further divided into eight segments.

The lobes are connected to small tubes called ducts. The small ducts connect to larger ones that ultimately form the common hepatic duct.

The liver makes bile, which travels through the common hepatic duct to the gallbladder and the first part of the small intestine (called the duodenum).

Location

The large muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen is called the diaphragm. The liver is situated under the diaphragm.

The liver is located behind the ribs, which protect it, with the top of the liver located between the fifth and sixth ribs. The lowest part of the liver extends down to the bottom of the rib cage.

Anatomical Variations

Some anatomical variations of the liver are considered normal and may not cause any symptoms. In Riedel’s lobe, which is more common in women, the right lobe has a projection that goes down to the gallbladder. Another variation is when the left side of the liver is elongated and extends to the spleen.

Having some underdeveloped liver segments is also possible. Another variation is to have a section of the colon between the chest wall and the liver. The surface of the liver could also have contouring or striations.

A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology

Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.

Function: What Does the Liver Do?

The liver has many important functions in the body, including:

• Removing toxins from the blood (such as alcohol)

• Breaking down old or damaged red blood cells

• Producing bile

• Breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats

• Producing proteins that help blood clot

• Regulating the amount of blood in the body

• Storing blood sugar (as glycogen), fat-soluble vitamins, and minerals such as copper and iron
  

Liver Conditions and Complications

Several different types of conditions can affect the liver.

Biliary Stasis

Certain conditions may affect the bile ducts. If the bile can't flow freely through the ducts, it may build up in the liver, causing damage. Conditions that could lead to biliary stasis include:

• Alagille syndrome: A congenital (as in present at birth) condition where a person has fewer bile ducts than is typical

• Biliary atresia: A congenital condition where bile ducts are narrowed, blocked, or absent

• Biliary stricture: A narrowing in a bile duct

• Cystic fibrosis: A congenital condition causing mucus buildup in the bile ducts

• Gallstones: Hardened pieces of bile that can obstruct a bile duct
  

Cardiovascular Diseases

Diseases that may cause a lack of blood flow to the liver could also lead to liver disease. These include:

• Budd-Chiari syndrome: A rare condition where the veins in the liver are narrowed or obstructed

• Ischemic hepatitis: A condition causing a restriction of blood or oxygen to the liver

• Vascular liver disorders: A number of usually rare disorders that affect the veins in the liver

• Right-sided heart failure: A condition wherein the right ventricle is too weak to pump enough blood to the body
  

Fatty Liver Disease

Too much fat in the liver could lead to inflammation. Fatty liver disease can result from consistently high blood sugar or high lipid levels in the blood.

Liver Cancer

Chronic liver disease can be associated with liver cancer. Inflammation in the liver can alter the cells enough to lead to cancer. Liver disease that a virus has caused may also result in changes that affect the DNA of the liver cells.

Metabolic Disorders

Some inherited conditions may negatively affect how the body converts food into energy. These metabolic disorders can cause a buildup of toxins in the blood and lead to chronic liver damage. This can include:

• Gaucher disease: A condition caused by a lack of an enzyme that breaks down a certain type of fat

• Glycogen storage disease: A condition that causes a lack of the enzymes needed to convert sugar from food into a form that the body can use

• Hemochromatosis: An inherited condition that causes a build-up of iron in the body

• Wilson disease: An inherited condition that causes too much copper to build up in the body
  

Noninfectious Hepatitis

Hepatitis occurs when the liver becomes inflamed. When a condition rather than infection causes it, it is called noninfectious hepatitis. Autoimmune conditions may lead to the immune system attacking the liver, causing inflammation. This can include forms of cholangitis, which cause inflammation of the bile ducts, such as primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Exposure to toxins or drug or alcohol use could also lead to inflammation in the liver. This could be called toxic hepatitis or alcohol-induced hepatitis. One purpose of the liver is to remove these toxins from the blood. If there are more of these substances for the liver to process, the result could be inflammation.

Viral Hepatitis

Viruses can also cause hepatitis. These viruses include:

• Hepatitis A: Spread through food and drinks that are contaminated with stool that contains the virus

• Hepatitis B: Spread by coming into contact with body fluids that contain the virus

• Hepatitis C: Spread through blood that contains the virus

• Hepatitis D: Spread by coming into contact with body fluids that contain the virus

• Hepatitis E: Spread through food or water contaminated with fecal matter that contains the virus and sometimes from a pregnant person to the fetus (vertical transmission)

• Hepatitis G: Spread through blood that contains the virus

General Symptoms of Liver Disease

Liver disease can cause symptoms such as:

• Dark urine

• Itchy skin

• Pale stool

• Unintended weight loss

• Yellowish skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Signs and symptoms of advanced liver disease can include:

• Clubbing of the nails

• Distended abdomen (ascites)

• Edema (swelling in the ankles, feet, hands, and face)

• Irregular menstrual periods or infertility (in those assigned female at birth)

• Shrunken testicles or enlarged breasts (in those assigned male at birth)

Scans and Testing to Diagnose Liver Disease

Several types of tests can diagnose diseases and conditions of the liver. These include:

• Abdominal ultrasound: An ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to visualize the shape of the liver.

• Blood tests: Liver function tests measure liver enzymes, proteins, and bilirubin levels in the blood.

• Computed tomography (CT) scan: This form of imaging uses X-rays to create a 3D image of the body's structures.

• Elastography: This test measures fibrosis (stiffening) of the tissue in the liver.

• Endoscopy: A thin tube with a light and a camera on the end passes through the mouth, down through the esophagus, and into the bile ducts.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This type of imaging uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the structures inside the body.

• Nuclear imaging: A harmless type of radioactive material is injected into the body to see how the body processes it.

• Liver biopsy: A small piece of tissue is taken from the liver to test it for liver conditions.
  

Summary

The liver is located in the upper right area of the abdomen and is protected by the rib cage. Some variations in the location or size of the liver might be normal and may not cause any signs or symptoms or be noticeable.

The liver plays an important role in health and could be affected by a number of factors, including viruses, inherited conditions, or diseases. When liver disease produces signs or symptoms, testing may determine the cause.

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