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Related Concept Videos

Gross Anatomy of the Liver01:17

Gross Anatomy of the Liver

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The liver, the largest gland within the human body, is a firm and reddish-brown organ. This wedge-shaped structure weighs approximately 1.5 kg and occupies a significant portion of the right hypochondriac and epigastric regions. It extends more to the right of the body's midline than to the left.
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Liver Physiology01:30

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The liver, an essential organ in the human body, performs over 200 vital functions that can be broadly categorized into metabolic, hematological, endocrine regulation, and bile production.
Metabolic Regulation:
The liver is the central organ involved in regulating blood composition. It stabilizes blood glucose levels, maintaining them within the range of  70–110 mg/dL. When these levels drop, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves and releases glucose into the bloodstream. It can...
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The liver is an important organ in vertebrates that plays an essential role in metabolism. It is also responsible for storing and redistributing nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins in the body. Additionally, the liver releases bile salts which are critical for digesting food and eliminating toxic metabolites from the body.
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Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow01:26

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Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug...
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Liver Histology01:27

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The microscopic anatomy of the liver is a complex and intricate system that comprises numerous structural units known as liver lobules, each of which is comparable in size to a sesame seed. These hexagonal structures consist of plates of liver cells or hepatocytes, which are characterized by their versatility and abundance of cellular apparatus like rough and smooth ER, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, and mitochondria.
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In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess...
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Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Functional Human Liver Preservation and Recovery by Means of Subnormothermic Machine Perfusion
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Functional Human Liver Preservation and Recovery by Means of Subnormothermic Machine Perfusion

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How much liver does a person need?

Igor Alexander Harsch1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine II Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism Thuringia Clinic "Georgius Agricola" Saalfeld Germany.

Clinical Case Reports
|January 2, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Unexpected gigantic liver cysts can compress abdominal organs, vessels, and the gut. This case shows that minimal residual liver tissue is sufficient for survival, even after years without medical care.

Keywords:
abdominal compressionliver cyst

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 31, 2025

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Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Case Reports

Background:

  • Patients with prolonged lack of medical care may present with unusual pathologies.
  • Large liver cysts can cause significant mass effect on surrounding intra-abdominal structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare case of a gigantic liver cyst causing extensive abdominal compression.
  • To highlight the liver's resilience and capacity for function with minimal viable tissue.

Main Methods:

  • Case presentation of a patient with a large liver cyst.
  • Clinical assessment of organ compression and patient's condition.

Main Results:

  • A gigantic liver cyst was identified, compressing adjacent abdominal organs, vasculature, and the gastrointestinal tract.
  • The patient demonstrated clinical stability and recovery in a nursing home setting despite limited functional liver parenchyma.

Conclusions:

  • Gigantic liver cysts pose a significant diagnostic and management challenge, particularly in patients with a history of neglected medical conditions.
  • This case underscores the remarkable compensatory capacity of the liver, demonstrating survival is possible with unexpectedly small amounts of functional liver tissue.