Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Liver has the privilege of being the –
– Second largest organ within the human physique (pores and skin is the primary largest organ)
– Heaviest inside organ
– The biggest gland within the human physique
– Main metabolic organ and an vital accent digestive organ
Location
It majorly occupies the appropriate higher stomach and center stomach and in addition extends a bit into the left higher stomach. It lies beneath the diaphragm, a muscular partition between the organs of chest and stomach cavity. It has two lobes of unequal form and measurement. It’s positioned to the appropriate of the abdomen and overlies the gallbladder.
Form of the liver
Form of the liver could be in comparison with that of a prism or wedge.
The bottom of the wedge of the liver is in the direction of the appropriate whereas its apex is in the direction of the left (pointing in the direction of the left of stomach).
Color and consistency of the liver
Liver is darkish reddish brown / pinkish brown in color. It’s tender in consistency. It’s extremely vascular and is definitely friable.
Weight of the liver
Liver roughly weighs 1500 grams (1.5 kilograms / 3.3 kilos roughly). Whereas that is the common weight, it might range between people, 970-1,860 grams in males and 600-1,770 grams in ladies (Wikipedia).
Width of the liver
Human liver is roughly 6 inches / 15 centimetres in width.
Blood Vessels and inside of the liver
The primary blood vessels associated to the liver are the hepatic artery and the portal vein.
– Hepatic artery – takes its origin from the aorta and carries blood by way of the celiac trunk.
– Portal Vein – carries nutrient wealthy blood from gastrointestinal tract, spleen and pancreas.
These blood vessels additional subdivided into small capillaries. These capillaries are generally known as liver sinusoids which lead into hepatic lobules.
Hepatic lobules – Hepatic lobules are the useful items of the liver. Tens of millions of hepatocytes i.e. hepatic cells make up every lobule of the liver. They’re the fundamental metabolic cells.
Connecting tissue holding the lobules – A effective, dense and irregular fibroelastic connective tissue layer holds these lobules collectively. This layer extends from Glisson’s capsule – the fibrous capsule masking your complete liver. This tissue extends into the construction of the liver and accompanies the blood vessels, ducts and nerves on the hepatic hilum.
Peritoneal Layer – A serous coat derived from peritoneum covers the entire floor of the liver except for ‘naked space’. This layer firmly adheres to the interior Glisson’s capsule.
Lobes of Liver
As seen from above – the liver is grossly divided right into a proper lobe and a left lobe by falciform ligament.
As seen from under – the liver is split into 4 elements i.e. –
– Left lobe
– Proper lobe
– Caudate lobe
– Quadrate lobe
Caudate and Quadrate lobes are positioned between the appropriate and left lobes.
Ligamentum venosum and spherical ligament of the liver additional divide the left aspect of the liver in two sections.
Porta Hepatis divides the left portion of the liver into 4 segments.
Surfaces of the Liver
a. Diaphragmatic Floor – The higher floor of the liver, which incorporates the convex higher areas of each the appropriate and left lobes accommodating the form of the diaphragm, is known as a diaphragmatic floor. It has a triangular ‘naked space’ which is in direct contact with the diaphragm. The opposite a part of the higher floor, aside from the naked space, is roofed by Peritoneum – a double layered membrane.
The identical peritoneum folds on itself in order to type the falciform ligament and the appropriate and left triangular ligaments. Falciform ligament attaches the liver to the posterior portion of the anterior physique wall. The triangular ligaments do not need any useful significance.
b. Visceral floor – The inferior floor of the liver is known as the visceral floor as a result of it’s involved with visceral organs of the stomach. This floor is concave and uneven. This space can be coated by peritoneum except for these areas the place it attaches to the gallbladder and porta hepatis.
To the appropriate of the quadrate lobe is the fossa of gallbladder. The gallbladder together with its cystic duct occupies this fossa, close to to the appropriate finish of porta hepatis.
Impressions of the liver
Impressions are fashioned on the beneath floor of the liver the place it comes into contact with numerous adjoining constructions and visceral organs. Beneath talked about are the impressions –
– Colic impression – for hepatic flexure of the colon (proper lobe)
– Renal impression – for a part of proper kidney and a part of suprarenal gland (proper lobe)
– Suprarenal impression – for proper suprarenal gland (proper lobe)
– Duodenal impression – medial to the renal impression, for descending portion of the duodenum (proper lobe)
– Gastric impression and tuber omentale – for abdomen (left lobe)
Microscopic Anatomy of the Liver
Every lobe of the liver is made up of hepatic lobules. These lobules are hexagonal in form. They include hepatocytes and sinusoids radiating from a central vein.
Portal Triad – It’s a distinct part of a lobule. It consists of three parts i.e. the hepatic artery, the portal vein and customary bile duct. Every triad runs alongside every of the lobule’s corners.
Liver Cells – There are two main kinds of liver cells.
– Parenchymal cells / hepatocytes make up about 70-85% of liver quantity
– Nonparenchymal cells – make up about 40% of liver cells however solely 6.5% of liver quantity
Different cells embrace –
– Sinusoidal endothelial cells and Phagocytic Kupffer cells – line the liver sinusoids
– Hepatic stellate cells (nonparenchymal) – present in perisinusoidal house
– Intrahepatic lymphocytes – current within the sinusoidal lumen
Useful Anatomy
The Porta Hepatis is a gap current within the hepatic hilum (the central space). It carries the frequent bile duct and customary hepatic artery and the opening for the portal vein.
Useful left and proper lobes – are the areas of liver equipped by the left and proper branches of the bile duct, hepatic vein and portal vein. Cantlie’s line is an imaginary airplane which separates the useful lobes of the liver.
The true proper and left lobes of the liver are demarcated / separated by Cantlie’s line and center hepatic vein.
The proper hepatic vein divides the appropriate lobe into anterior and posterior segments.
The left hepatic vein divides the left lobe into the medial and lateral segments.
Additional the Couinaud System of classification divides the liver into eight functionally impartial liver segments, every of which having its personal vascular influx, outflow and biliary drainage.
Fetal Blood Provide
Umbilical vein, which provides vitamins to the rising fetus, is the key supply of blood to the liver.
Capabilities of Liver
It’s estimated that the human liver is liable for over 500 completely different features within the physique that are primarily carried out by the liver cells generally known as hepatocytes.
Blood Provide to the liver
The blood provide to the liver is derived from each the hepatic portal vein and hepatic arteries. The hepatic portal vein is the primary gamechanger right here. It provides round 75% of blood provide to the liver. It additionally carries the venous blood drained from the spleen, gastrointestinal tract and its related organs. The arterial blood equipped to the liver comes from hepatic arteries which types the opposite 25% of blood provide.
The blood flows by the liver sinusoids and empties into the central vein positioned in every lobule.
Alternatively, the central veins coalesce into hepatic veins. These veins go away the liver and drain into the inferior vena cava.
Biliary Tract or Tree
It’s the pathway by which the bile which is secreted by the liver is transported to the duodenum, the primary a part of the small gut. The tract is derived from the branches of the bile ducts. The bile collects within the bile canaliculi. These canaliculi radiate to the sting of the liver lobule. Right here, they merge to type bile ducts. These ducts are known as intrahepatic bile ducts whereas they’re throughout the liver however are known as extrahepatic bile ducts as soon as they exit from the liver. The intrahepatic ducts drain into proper and left hepatic ducts. These ducts exit the liver and merge to type the frequent hepatic duct. The frequent bile duct is fashioned by the becoming a member of of the frequent bile duct exiting the liver and cystic duct coming from the gallbladder.
The frequent bile duct drains the bile immediately into the duodenum or it’s saved quickly within the gallbladder by way of the cystic duct.
Ampulla of Vater / Hepatopancreatic Ampulla – It’s current within the second a part of the duodenum into which the frequent bile duct and the pancreatic duct enters and opens into the duodenum.
Liver transplantation was first carried out by
– Thomas Starzl – USA – IN 1963
– Roy Calne – Cambridge, England – 1967
It’s the solely possibility for these with irreversible liver failure. Most liver transplants are executed for persistent liver ailments resulting in Cirrhosis.
In Ayurveda, the liver is known as Yakrit. Ayurveda too has talked about the liver without any consideration sided organ positioned within the stomach cavity.
Yakrit, together with Pliha – spleen and Raktavahini Dhamanis – arteries carrying blood, is the foundation of raktavaha srotas – channels forming and carrying blood within the physique. They’re additionally the seat of raktadhara kala – membranes and layers throughout the pulp of the liver which assist in formation of fine high quality and amount of blood.
Additionally, the liver and spleen are thought of as ‘raktashaya’ i.e. reservoirs of blood within the physique. Fashionable anatomy too considers the identical.
Functionally the liver and spleen are the abodes of ranjaka pitta – a pitta subtype which helps in colouring the rasa tissue getting into these organs and reworking it into rakta – blood tissue.
Associated Studying – Yakrit Rachana Shareera – Anatomy of liver, Ayurveda perspective
