Where is Your Liver Located

Some of the commonly known facts of the liver are the different benefits of liver in digestion; hormone production in the liver; the liver getting damaged due to excess consumption of alcohol; fatty liver disease, etc. So, it is natural for you to be curious about the location and functions of the liver. Here we will take a detailed look on the location of the liver, its functions and also about the diseases associated with it.

The Human Liver and its Functions

The liver is one of the most important and vital organs of the human body. As it carries out several important functions in the body, it is considered as vital an organ as the heart and the brain. The liver is reddish-brown or pinkish brown in color, and triangular in shape (see image). It is uneven in size and shape, and is located in the abdominal area. It is also considered as one of the largest internal organs in the body. It weighs approximately 1.5 kg (a couple of grams over and under may also be found) or 3.2 lb. The Greek word for liver is hēpar; therefore, terms related to the liver start with 'hepatic' (like hepatitis, hepatoma, hepatology, etc.)

The liver plays an important role in converting glucose to glycogen, and also in the formation of certain amino acids. In short, liver aids in production of energy in the body. Among the several liver functions, secretion of chemicals essential for digestion is the most important one. It produces chemicals that help in breaking down fats. Secondly, liver absorbs all the essential vitamins and helps in the production of cholesterol in the body. Functions of the liver also include the formation of bile, cleaning of the bloodstream, detoxification, as well as keeping off disease-causing pathogens. So, we come back to the question, where is your liver situated in the body? Let us take a look.

Where is the Liver Located

In simplest terms, it can be said that the liver is located on the right side of the abdominal cavity, just below the diaphragm. In scientific terms, the liver is said to be located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity. The gallbladder is located to the exact back side of the liver in the human body. If one palpates properly and touches just below the right rib cage, one can feel the liver in the body. In other words, we can also say that the liver is located nearer to the stomach, the spleen, the kidneys and the intestines.

Diseases Associated with the Liver

Liver cancer (also known as Hepatocellular carcinoma or hepatoma) and liver cirrhosis are the major life-threatening conditions associated with the liver. Liver cancer develops when there is an abnormal malignant growth of cancerous cells in the liver. Whereas, liver cirrhosis is caused due to excess consumption of alcohol, for a longer period. Similarly, alcoholic fatty liver and liver damage are conditions caused due to excess alcohol consumption. On the other hand, infections like hepatitis A, B, C and E, jaundice, etc. are some of the diseases associated with the liver. It is found that certain medications, like cancer medications, can lead to liver damage. Most of these condition can be treated if symptoms are detected at an early stage.

Maintaining a Healthy Liver
Avoiding alcohol and fatty foods are the measures that can be undertaken for the prevention of liver diseases. Secondly, if you wish to maintain a healthy liver, you should also avoid use of drugs, as they can be toxic to the liver and deteriorate the liver in a short period. It is recommended to take prescription medications only in prescribed amounts as they can also harm the liver. Thirdly, one should look for hepatitis vaccines for preventing the disease. These are the best preventive measures that help in avoiding life-threatening conditions associated with the liver.

This was brief information on the position of the liver, and the diseases associated with the liver. Lastly, as a concluding note, one should remember that as the liver is one of the most important organ in the body, it is essential to protect it by following proper diet and having a healthy lifestyle. Take care!