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Dictionary » Liver
 

Liver

Introduction: Liver

Description of Liver

Liver: [TA]Do not confuse this word with livor. The largest gland of the body, lying beneath the diaphragm in the right hypochondrium and upper part of the epigastric region; it is of irregular shape and weighs from 1-2 kg, or about one fortieth the weight of the body. As an exocrine gland, it secretes bile; it initially receives most absorbed nutrients through the portal vein; it detoxifies drugs and many exogeneous substances and is also of great importance in fat, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism; also stores glycogen. SYN: hepar [TA]. [A.S. lifer]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Liver: A large organ located in the upper abdomen. The liver cleanses the blood and aids in digestion by secreting bile.
Source: National Institute of Health

Liver: large and complicated reddish-brown glandular organ located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity; secretes bile and functions in metabolism of protein and carbohydrate and fat; synthesizes substances involved in the clotting of the blood; synthesizes vitamin A; detoxifies poisonous substances and breaks down worn-out erythrocytes.
Source: WordNet 2.1

Liver: large gland of a dark-red color situated in the upper part of the abdomen on the right side; comprised of thousands of minute lobules, the functional units of the liver; functions include the storage and filtration of blood, secretion of bile, excretion of bilirubin and other substances formed elsewhere, and numerous metabolic functions, including the conversion of sugars into glycogen, which it stores.
Source: CRISP

Liver as an Organ

Liver (organ): Large internal organ with various functions.

Liver (organ): The liver is a large internal organ that helps with digestion and various metabolic processes. It secretes bile that is used in the duodenum and small intestine for digestion of nutrients. The liver also metabolizes various substances to neutralize them and avoid harmful build-up of certain waste products. Glucose is also stored and released by the liver, depending on a complex interaction between blood sugar levels and the pancreas (involving insulin and glucagon levels).

Liver (organ): The liver, the largest organ in the body, is essential in keeping the body functioning properly. It removes or neutralizes poisons from the blood, produces immune agents to control infection, and removes germs and bacteria from the blood. It makes proteins that regulate blood clotting and produces bile to help absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins. You cannot live without a functioning liver. (Source: excerpt from Cirrhosis of the Liver: NIDDK)

The liver is the largest organ in the body. It is found behind the ribs on the right side of the abdomen . The liver has two parts, a right lobe and a smaller left lobe.

The liver has many important functions that keep a person healthy. It removes harmful material from the blood. It makes enzymes and bile that help digest food. It also converts food into substances needed for life and growth.

The liver gets its supply of blood from two vessels. Most of its blood comes from the hepatic portal vein . The rest comes from the hepatic artery . (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Liver Cancer: NCI)

Liver (organ): See Liver (organ information).

More information on organs: Liver:

Terms associated with Liver:

Terms Similar to Liver:

  • hepatic effect

Source - MeSH OBO (Open Biomedical Ontologies)

Related Topics

Source - MeSH 2007

More specific terms for Liver:

Source - MeSH 2007

Source - CRISP

Broader terms for Liver

Source - CRISP

Source - WordNet 2.1

The description of Liver may also be used for the following terms:

Source: CRISP

Hierarchical classifications of Liver

The following list attempts to classify Liver into categories where each line is subset of the next.

WordNet 2.1

  • internal organ,viscus
  • organ
  • body part
  • part,piece
  • thing
  • entity

Source: WordNet 2.1

MeSH 2007 Hierarchy:

MESH - OBO (Open Biomedical Ontologies)

Interesting Medical Articles:

Medical dictionaries:

More Medical Dictionary Topics

  • Parietal lobe
  • Parietal lobe /cortex
  • Parietal lobe epilepsy
  • Parietal lobe of cerebrum
  • Parietal lymph nodes of abdomen
  • Parietal margin
  • Parietal margin of frontal bone
  • Parietal margin of greater wing of sphenoid
  • Parietal nodes
  • Parietal notch

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