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liver
(livīәr)
the large, dark-red gland located in the upper right portion of the abdomen, just beneath the diaphragm; it has a double blood supply from the hepatic artery and the portal vein. Its traditional anatomic divisions have been four
lobes, called left, right, caudate, and quadrate. Based on the internal blood supply and biliary drainage, a newer anatomic system divides the liver into three regions, the
left liver, right liver, and posterior liver, with the latter being identical to the caudate lobe. The liver is made up of thousands of minute lobules, which are its functional units. Among the many functions of the liver
are the following: storage and filtration of blood; secretion of bile; conversion of sugars into glycogen; synthesis and breakdown of fats, with temporary storage of fatty acids; and synthesis of serum proteins such as certain alpha and beta globulins, albumin, fibrinogen, and prothrombin.
Surface structures of the liver.
fatty liver
one with fatty infiltration, usually from alcohol abuse, jejunoileal bypass surgery, or occasionally diabetes mellitus. The fat is in large droplets and the liver is enlarged but of normal consistency; patients are often asymptomatic, but the
condition may progress to hepatitis or cirrhosis if the underlying cause is not removed.
hobnail liver
one whose surface has naillike points from cirrhosis.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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