Organ Name: Liver (hepat-, hepatic-, jecor-)

Where it’s located: Above the stomach, below the diaphragm, in the upper right portion of the abdomen.

What System: Digestive System

Main Function: The liver is one of the larger organs in the body, weighing around 3 pounds, and taking taking up most of the space underneath the ribs as well as some space in the upper left abdomen. The liver is also the only organ that can regenerate itself, therefore, if diseased sections of a liver are removed, the patient will not have compromised liver function due to decrease in size. From the outside, a large right lobe and left lobe can be distinguished, both divided by connective tissue that also anchors the liver to the abdominal cavity. The liver will convert nutrients in our diets into substances that the body can use, it proceeds to store said substances, and supplies the cell with them whenever the need arises. In addition, it will take toxic substances, convert those into harmless substances, and makes sure they’re released from the body.

Protective Bodies: The lower part of the rib cage acts as additional protection to the liver.

Germ Layer: Endoderm layer gives rise to the liver.

Major Arteries, Veins, or Nerves: heaptic plexus, celiac ganglia, hepatic veins, hepatic veins, the hepatic artery, cystic artery, hepatic artery proper, and the inferior phrenic arteries.

Intraperitoneal or Retroperitoneal: Intraperitoneal.

Diseases:
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Liver cancer that, when exacerbated by alcohol abuse, hepatitis, or iron overload, can cause cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. This kind of cancer accounts for most liver cancer diagnoses.
Fibrolamellar Carcinoma: Rare liver cancer, occurring in adolescents and young adults who have no history of liver cancer. Most diagnoses come due to symptoms arising from advanced spread of the cancer. There are no truly effective treatment options other than resection surgery, which is only effective before metastatic spread.

Hepatoblastoma: Rare form of cancer that normally affects children, and originates in the right lobe of the liver. Metastasis usually occurs in the lungs and other abdominal structure. However, it is unlikely to move to the bone, bone marrow, and the central nervous system. The causes of Hepatoblastoma are unknown, but, there are genetic conditions such as Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, and Hemihypertrophy that are associated with an increased risk of development.

Hepatitis (A,B,C,D,E): Inflammation of the liver that can progress to become liver cancer, fibrosis or cirrhosis. There are 5 types of the Hepatitis virus: A, B, C, D, and E, with B and C being the most common, and are the most common cause of liver cancer/cirrhosis. With these 5 types, there is high potential for epidemic spread, and must be attended to immediately. Hepatitis B, C, and D are cause by parenteral contact with currently infected body fluids, or byproducts, whereas Hepatitis A and E are caused due to ingestion of contaminated food or water.