Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLocationFunctionConditionsDiagnosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Location
Function
Conditions
Diagnosis
The liver is located on the right side of your body. This organ can be found below the rib cage and above the stomach, kidney, and intestines in your abdomen. The liver is located in the same place for people of any sex. However, the organ may be heavier and larger in males.
Liver function is critical to maintaining health, and it plays a key role in digestion, nutrition, and processing waste in the body. Some of the conditions that affect the liver include hepatitis, fatty liver disease,cirrhosis,cholangitis, drug-induced liver disease, and cancer.
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same.Sex refers to biology: chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy. People are most often assigned male or female at birth based on their external anatomy; some people do not fit into that sex binary and are intersex.Gender describes a person’s internal sense of self as a woman, man, nonbinary person, or another gender, and the associated social and cultural ideas about roles, behaviors, expressions, and characteristics.Research studies sometimes don’t use the terminology in this way. Terms that describe gender (“woman,” “man”) may be used when terms for sex (“female,” “male”) are more appropriate. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same.Sex refers to biology: chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy. People are most often assigned male or female at birth based on their external anatomy; some people do not fit into that sex binary and are intersex.Gender describes a person’s internal sense of self as a woman, man, nonbinary person, or another gender, and the associated social and cultural ideas about roles, behaviors, expressions, and characteristics.Research studies sometimes don’t use the terminology in this way. Terms that describe gender (“woman,” “man”) may be used when terms for sex (“female,” “male”) are more appropriate. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same.
Research studies sometimes don’t use the terminology in this way. Terms that describe gender (“woman,” “man”) may be used when terms for sex (“female,” “male”) are more appropriate. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
CasarsaGuru / Getty Images
Location of the Liver
The liver is located on the right side of the body, but part of the liver extends through the middle and slightly into the left side of the abdomen. It becomes narrower as it extends to the left side.The liver:
Anatomical Variations of the LiverSome anatomical variations of the liver are considered normal and may not cause any symptoms.For example:In Riedel’s lobe, which is more common in females, the right lobe has a projection that goes down to the gallbladder.Another variation is when the left side of the liver is elongated and extends to the spleen.Having some underdeveloped liver segments is also possible.Part of the colon can be between the liver and chest wall.The liver surface could also have contouring or striations.
Anatomical Variations of the Liver
Some anatomical variations of the liver are considered normal and may not cause any symptoms.For example:In Riedel’s lobe, which is more common in females, the right lobe has a projection that goes down to the gallbladder.Another variation is when the left side of the liver is elongated and extends to the spleen.Having some underdeveloped liver segments is also possible.Part of the colon can be between the liver and chest wall.The liver surface could also have contouring or striations.
Some anatomical variations of the liver are considered normal and may not cause any symptoms.For example:
Liver Function
The liver has many important functions in the body, including:
Liver Conditions and Complications
Several different types of conditions can affect the liver.
Biliary Stasis
Certain conditions may affect the bile ducts. If the bile can’t flow freely through the ducts, it may build up in the liver, causing damage. Conditions that could lead tobiliary stasisinclude:
Cardiovascular Diseases
Diseases that may cause a lack of blood flow to the liver could also lead to liver disease. These include:
Fatty Liver Disease
Too much fat in the liver could lead to inflammation.Fatty liver diseasecan result from consistently high blood sugar or high lipid levels in the blood.Symptoms of abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and jaundice (yellowed skin) are common.
Left untreated, fatty liver disease can progress and lead to complications, including liver failure.
Liver Cancer
Chronic liver disease can be associated with liver cancer although some types, such as the rare fibrolamellar-hepatocellular carcinoma (FLL-HCC), occur in younger people with no history of a liver condition.
Inflammation in the liver can alter the cells enough to lead to cancer. Liver disease due to a virus also result in changes that affect the DNA of the liver cells.
Metabolic Disorders
Some inherited conditions may negatively affect how the body converts food into energy. These metabolic disorders can cause a buildup of toxins in the blood and lead to chronic liver damage. This can include:
Noninfectious Hepatitis
Hepatitis occurs when the liver becomes inflamed. When a condition rather than infection causes it, it is called noninfectious hepatitis. Autoimmune conditions may lead to the immune system attacking the liver, causing inflammation. This can include forms of cholangitis that can cause inflammation of the bile ducts, such asprimary sclerosing cholangitis.
Exposure to toxins or drug or alcohol use could also lead to inflammation in the liver. This could be called toxic hepatitis or alcohol-induced hepatitis. One purpose of the liver is to remove these toxins from the blood. If there are more of these substances for the liver to process, the result could be inflammation.
Viral Hepatitis
Viruses can also causehepatitis. These viruses include:
General Symptoms of Liver DiseaseLiver disease can cause symptoms such as:Dark urineItchy skinPale stoolUnintended weight lossYellowish skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)Signs and symptoms of advanced liver disease can include:Clubbingof the nailsDistended abdomen (ascites)Edema(swelling in the ankles, feet, hands, and face)Irregular menstrual periods or infertilityShrunken testicles or enlarged breasts in males
General Symptoms of Liver Disease
Liver disease can cause symptoms such as:Dark urineItchy skinPale stoolUnintended weight lossYellowish skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)Signs and symptoms of advanced liver disease can include:Clubbingof the nailsDistended abdomen (ascites)Edema(swelling in the ankles, feet, hands, and face)Irregular menstrual periods or infertilityShrunken testicles or enlarged breasts in males
Liver disease can cause symptoms such as:
Signs and symptoms of advanced liver disease can include:
Several types of tests can diagnose diseases and conditions of the liver. These include:
How to Check for Liver FunctionYour healthcare provider can order blood tests to check for alkaline phosphate (ALP), bilirubin, and other markers of liver function. This is common for people who take long-term medications that can affect the liver, like some statin cholesterol drugs.At-home test kits are available but talk to your provider about their use to ensure you’re getting accurate results.
How to Check for Liver Function
Your healthcare provider can order blood tests to check for alkaline phosphate (ALP), bilirubin, and other markers of liver function. This is common for people who take long-term medications that can affect the liver, like some statin cholesterol drugs.At-home test kits are available but talk to your provider about their use to ensure you’re getting accurate results.
Summary
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UpToDate.Overview of the evaluation of hepatomegaly in adults.Molina DK, DiMaio VJ.Normal Organ Weights in Women: Part II-The Brain, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, and Kidneys. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2015 Sep;36(3):182-7. doi:10.1097/PAF.0000000000000175Altun E, El-Azzazi M, Semelka RC.The cross-sectional anatomy of the liver and normal variations. In: Liver Imaging: MRI with CT Correlation, First Edition. 2015;1–14. doi:10.1002/9781118484852.ch1Savopoulos C, Kakaletsis N, Kaiafa G, et al.Riedel’s lobe of the liver: a case report.Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94(3):e430. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000000430Altun E, El-Azzazi M, Semelka RC.The cross-sectional anatomy of the liver and normal variations. In: Liver Imaging: MRI with CT Correlation, First Edition. 2015;1–14. doi:10.1002/9781118484852.ch1National Center for Biotechnology Information.In brief: How does the liver work?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Alagille syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of biliary atresia.Narkewicz MR.Cystic fibrosis liver disease in the post-modulator era.Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2023 Nov 1;29(6):621-625. doi:10.1097/MCP.0000000000001017Sharma A, Keshava SN, Eapen A, Elias E, Eapen CE.An Update on the Management of Budd-Chiari Syndrome.Dig Dis Sci. 2021 Jun;66(6):1780-1790. doi:10.1007/s10620-020-06485-ySmith JE, Rockey DC.Update on ischemic hepatitis.Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2024 May 1;40(3):143-147. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000001017National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of NAFLD & NASH.Fribrolamellar Cancer Foundation.What is fibrolamellar carcinoma?Rawla P, Sunkara T, Muralidharan P, Raj JP.Update in global trends and aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma.Contemp Oncol (Pozn). 2018;22(3):141-150. doi:10.5114/wo.2018.78941Imbalzano G, Ledda C, Romagnolo A, Covolo A, Lopiano L, Artusi CA.Neurological symptoms in adults with Gaucher disease: a systematic review.J Neurol. 2024 Jul;271(7):3897-3907. doi: 10.1007/s00415-024-12439-5National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for hemochromatosis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Wilson disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for primary sclerosing cholangitis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is viral hepatitis?Stanford Medicine.Liver disease, head to foot.American Liver Foundation.Diagnosing Liver Disease.University of Chicago Medicine.Interventional Diagnostic Tests for Liver Diseases.American College of Gastroenterology.Medications and the liver.
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UpToDate.Overview of the evaluation of hepatomegaly in adults.Molina DK, DiMaio VJ.Normal Organ Weights in Women: Part II-The Brain, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, and Kidneys. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2015 Sep;36(3):182-7. doi:10.1097/PAF.0000000000000175Altun E, El-Azzazi M, Semelka RC.The cross-sectional anatomy of the liver and normal variations. In: Liver Imaging: MRI with CT Correlation, First Edition. 2015;1–14. doi:10.1002/9781118484852.ch1Savopoulos C, Kakaletsis N, Kaiafa G, et al.Riedel’s lobe of the liver: a case report.Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94(3):e430. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000000430Altun E, El-Azzazi M, Semelka RC.The cross-sectional anatomy of the liver and normal variations. In: Liver Imaging: MRI with CT Correlation, First Edition. 2015;1–14. doi:10.1002/9781118484852.ch1National Center for Biotechnology Information.In brief: How does the liver work?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Alagille syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of biliary atresia.Narkewicz MR.Cystic fibrosis liver disease in the post-modulator era.Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2023 Nov 1;29(6):621-625. doi:10.1097/MCP.0000000000001017Sharma A, Keshava SN, Eapen A, Elias E, Eapen CE.An Update on the Management of Budd-Chiari Syndrome.Dig Dis Sci. 2021 Jun;66(6):1780-1790. doi:10.1007/s10620-020-06485-ySmith JE, Rockey DC.Update on ischemic hepatitis.Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2024 May 1;40(3):143-147. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000001017National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of NAFLD & NASH.Fribrolamellar Cancer Foundation.What is fibrolamellar carcinoma?Rawla P, Sunkara T, Muralidharan P, Raj JP.Update in global trends and aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma.Contemp Oncol (Pozn). 2018;22(3):141-150. doi:10.5114/wo.2018.78941Imbalzano G, Ledda C, Romagnolo A, Covolo A, Lopiano L, Artusi CA.Neurological symptoms in adults with Gaucher disease: a systematic review.J Neurol. 2024 Jul;271(7):3897-3907. doi: 10.1007/s00415-024-12439-5National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for hemochromatosis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Wilson disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for primary sclerosing cholangitis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is viral hepatitis?Stanford Medicine.Liver disease, head to foot.American Liver Foundation.Diagnosing Liver Disease.University of Chicago Medicine.Interventional Diagnostic Tests for Liver Diseases.American College of Gastroenterology.Medications and the liver.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
UpToDate.Overview of the evaluation of hepatomegaly in adults.Molina DK, DiMaio VJ.Normal Organ Weights in Women: Part II-The Brain, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, and Kidneys. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2015 Sep;36(3):182-7. doi:10.1097/PAF.0000000000000175Altun E, El-Azzazi M, Semelka RC.The cross-sectional anatomy of the liver and normal variations. In: Liver Imaging: MRI with CT Correlation, First Edition. 2015;1–14. doi:10.1002/9781118484852.ch1Savopoulos C, Kakaletsis N, Kaiafa G, et al.Riedel’s lobe of the liver: a case report.Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94(3):e430. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000000430Altun E, El-Azzazi M, Semelka RC.The cross-sectional anatomy of the liver and normal variations. In: Liver Imaging: MRI with CT Correlation, First Edition. 2015;1–14. doi:10.1002/9781118484852.ch1National Center for Biotechnology Information.In brief: How does the liver work?National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Alagille syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of biliary atresia.Narkewicz MR.Cystic fibrosis liver disease in the post-modulator era.Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2023 Nov 1;29(6):621-625. doi:10.1097/MCP.0000000000001017Sharma A, Keshava SN, Eapen A, Elias E, Eapen CE.An Update on the Management of Budd-Chiari Syndrome.Dig Dis Sci. 2021 Jun;66(6):1780-1790. doi:10.1007/s10620-020-06485-ySmith JE, Rockey DC.Update on ischemic hepatitis.Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2024 May 1;40(3):143-147. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000001017National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of NAFLD & NASH.Fribrolamellar Cancer Foundation.What is fibrolamellar carcinoma?Rawla P, Sunkara T, Muralidharan P, Raj JP.Update in global trends and aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma.Contemp Oncol (Pozn). 2018;22(3):141-150. doi:10.5114/wo.2018.78941Imbalzano G, Ledda C, Romagnolo A, Covolo A, Lopiano L, Artusi CA.Neurological symptoms in adults with Gaucher disease: a systematic review.J Neurol. 2024 Jul;271(7):3897-3907. doi: 10.1007/s00415-024-12439-5National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for hemochromatosis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Wilson disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for primary sclerosing cholangitis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is viral hepatitis?Stanford Medicine.Liver disease, head to foot.American Liver Foundation.Diagnosing Liver Disease.University of Chicago Medicine.Interventional Diagnostic Tests for Liver Diseases.American College of Gastroenterology.Medications and the liver.
UpToDate.Overview of the evaluation of hepatomegaly in adults.
Molina DK, DiMaio VJ.Normal Organ Weights in Women: Part II-The Brain, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, and Kidneys. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2015 Sep;36(3):182-7. doi:10.1097/PAF.0000000000000175
Altun E, El-Azzazi M, Semelka RC.The cross-sectional anatomy of the liver and normal variations. In: Liver Imaging: MRI with CT Correlation, First Edition. 2015;1–14. doi:10.1002/9781118484852.ch1
Savopoulos C, Kakaletsis N, Kaiafa G, et al.Riedel’s lobe of the liver: a case report.Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94(3):e430. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000000430
National Center for Biotechnology Information.In brief: How does the liver work?
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Alagille syndrome.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of biliary atresia.
Narkewicz MR.Cystic fibrosis liver disease in the post-modulator era.Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2023 Nov 1;29(6):621-625. doi:10.1097/MCP.0000000000001017
Sharma A, Keshava SN, Eapen A, Elias E, Eapen CE.An Update on the Management of Budd-Chiari Syndrome.Dig Dis Sci. 2021 Jun;66(6):1780-1790. doi:10.1007/s10620-020-06485-y
Smith JE, Rockey DC.Update on ischemic hepatitis.Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2024 May 1;40(3):143-147. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000001017
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of NAFLD & NASH.
Fribrolamellar Cancer Foundation.What is fibrolamellar carcinoma?
Rawla P, Sunkara T, Muralidharan P, Raj JP.Update in global trends and aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma.Contemp Oncol (Pozn). 2018;22(3):141-150. doi:10.5114/wo.2018.78941
Imbalzano G, Ledda C, Romagnolo A, Covolo A, Lopiano L, Artusi CA.Neurological symptoms in adults with Gaucher disease: a systematic review.J Neurol. 2024 Jul;271(7):3897-3907. doi: 10.1007/s00415-024-12439-5
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for hemochromatosis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for Wilson disease.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for primary sclerosing cholangitis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is viral hepatitis?
Stanford Medicine.Liver disease, head to foot.
American Liver Foundation.Diagnosing Liver Disease.
University of Chicago Medicine.Interventional Diagnostic Tests for Liver Diseases.
American College of Gastroenterology.Medications and the liver.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
