Your liver is your body’s largest solid organ. The liver location is mostly in the right upper portion of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm. A portion of the liver goes into the left upper abdomen as well.

On average, the liver weighs around 3 pounds in adulthood and is roughly the size of a football.

This organ is vital to the body’s metabolic functions and immune system. Without a functioning liver, a person cannot survive.

这liver is a half-moon-shaped organ that’s fairly straight on the bottom. It’s tilted slightly in the body’s cavity, with the left portion above the stomach and the right portion above the first part of the small intestine.

肝脏有两个主要部分或叶。每个叶子进一步分为八个部分。每个细分市场估计有1,000个小叶或小裂片。这些小叶中的每一个都有一个小管（管道），该管向常见的肝管流动。

与身体的其余部分相比，肝脏流过大量血液。估计13％在任何给定时间，人体的血液（大约是品脱）都在肝脏中。

使用此交互式3-D图来探索肝脏：

这liver’s major functions are in the metabolic processes of the body. These include:

  • 分解或从脂肪和蛋白质等食物中转化物质
  • extracting energy, vitamins, and minerals
  • 使毒素对身体有害，并将其从血液中清除

肝脏通过从消化器官中接受营养的血液通过称为门静脉的静脉来做到这一点。肝脏的许多细胞，称为肝细胞，接受并过滤该血液。

肝脏还估计 800到1000毫升(mL) of bile a day, which then goes to the small intestine and helps further break down fats. Meanwhile, it also releases ammonia, a toxic by-product of the protein breakdown, through your urine in the form of urea.

这liver is truly an amazing organ because it has the capacity to regenerate. This means that after an injury or surgery to remove tissue, the liver tissue can grow back to a certain extent.

肝脏通过使现有细胞扩大而开始恢复生长。然后，新的肝细胞开始繁殖。

In 1931, a study on rats first showed that within a week of removingtwo-thirdsof a rat’s liver, the organ had returned to its initial weight. Other studies have confirmed these findings in rodents, and research has shown that human livers can behave similarly.

这re are many types of diseases that can affect the liver and its functions. Some have successful treatments while others do not. Examples of common conditions that affect the liver include:

自身免疫性肝炎

自身免疫性肝炎原因the body’s immune system to attack itself and 破坏 healthy liver tissue. Autoimmune hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and other liver damage.

Biliary atresia

Biliary atresiais a condition that 影响 新生儿的胆管和胆汁流。肝脏内外的胆管被疤痕和阻塞。

这condition can be congenital or occur as a result of inflammation. It usually requires surgery and in many cases a liver transplant.

血色素沉着病

血色素沉着病原因an excess of iron to build up in the body. Too much iron can 损害 肝脏。

Primary hemochromatosis is usually caused by genetic disorders that interfere with the production of red blood cells.

Secondary hemochromatosis is caused by consuming too much iron in your diet or from a blood transfusion. If you have severe anemia or another condition that requires frequent blood transfusions, you can have a buildup of iron in your blood. But, there are treatments to reduce the risk of this happening.

Other causes can include liver failure, or hepatitis B or C.

A third, but very rare, type is neonatal hemochromatosis, which happens when the liver of the fetus is damaged in the womb.

Hepatitis A

Viral hepatitis refers to a viral infection that causes liver inflammation. The肝炎类型have different letters, including A, B, C, D, and E. Each has different causes and severity.

Hepatitis A在缺乏干净饮用水且卫生系统差的地区更为常见。大多数人可以 recover 从没有肝衰竭或长期并发症的肝炎中。

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis Bcan cause a short- or long-term infection. In adults in the United States, the disease is most commonly 通过性接触传播。但是，一个人也可以通过共享针头或意外地注入受污染的针头来获取它。

这种病可能会导致严重的并发症，包括肝衰竭和癌症。有针对该疾病的疫苗以防止这种疾病。

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C可以是急性感染或慢性感染。它的 most commonly spread by coming in contact with blood containing the hepatitis C virus, such as through sharing unclean needles to inject drugs or to apply tattoos.

Unprotected sexual contact with a person who carries the virus can transmit the infection, too. But, this is a less common occurrence.

This condition can cause inflammation that can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, andliver cancer.

非酒精性脂肪肝病and NASH

非酒精性脂肪肝病is a condition in which fat builds up in the liver. An excess of fat can damage the liver, causing inflammation.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that causes scarring or fibrosis. People who carry extra weight and have conditions related to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, are more likely to have this disease.

Liver cancer

如果癌症在肝脏中发展，它会破坏细胞并影响肝脏的正常功能。美国的肝癌发生率两倍在过去的30年中。

肝硬化患者患肝癌的风险很高。

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)is the most common type of liver cancer. It starts in the liver’s cells.

肝硬化和肝衰竭

Cirrhosisof the liver is a condition where scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue. This causes a loss of liver function that results in chronic肝衰竭. It is a serious condition that should be treated immediately.

A number of conditions can cause cirrhosis. These include long-term excessive alcohol use, chronic hepatitis, or rare genetic disorders, such asWilson’s disease.

Cirrhosis may alsocausehigh pressure in the liver’s portal vein, leading to a condition calledportal hypertension. This can cause ascites, which occurs when fluids leak into the abdomen.

腹部可能构成me swollen and painful. Ascites can also causeedema, which is the swelling of the legs and ankles. If ascites become infected, it is called spontaneous bacterialperitonitis, a condition that can be fatal if it isn’t treated.

肝衰竭的另一种类型是急性肝衰竭，这是肝功能的快速恶化。急性肝衰竭可能会突然或几周或几天内发生。这 原因 可以包括：

  • taking too muchacetaminophen(Tylenol)
  • insufficient supply of blood to the liver
  • 肝炎
  • 药物过量
  • certain herbal or dietary supplements

Alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease is a metabolic condition affecting 肝脏。它是由长时间和过度使用的饮酒引起的。每个人的进展可能不同，但通常有三个阶段：

  • accumulation of fat in the liver cells
  • inflammation of liver cells
  • cirrhosis

这type of alcohol doesn’t affect whether you can develop the condition. What matters is the consumption of large quantities over time. Females are more likely to get the condition. Other risks include obesity and eating a high-fat diet, and a concurrent hepatitis C infection.

Many liver disease conditions begin with flu-like symptoms and progress to more severe signs of liver damage, such asjaundice和深色尿液。

Other symptoms of liver problems包括:

更严重的症状包括:

  • 皮肤和眼睛泛黄（黄疸）
  • confusion and difficulty thinking clearly
  • 腹部肿胀（腹水）
  • 腿肿胀（水肿）
  • 阳ot
  • gynecomastia（当雄性开始发展乳房组织时）
  • 肝脏扩大(hepatomegaly)
  • dark urine
  • pale-colored stools

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, talk with your doctor immediately.

这se lifestyle changes can help you keep your liver healthy:

  • Get vaccinated for肝炎Aand肝炎B.
  • 实践safe sex带避孕套。
  • Don’t share needles or personal care items (razors, toothbrushes, etc.).
  • Exercise regularly.
  • 与您的医生讨论您要服用的任何药物，因为它们可能会影响您的肝脏。
  • Limit the amount of alcohol you consume since it takes a lot for your liver to break down the toxins from alcohol.
  • 维持平衡的饮食纤维andfatty fishes.

Learn more about what kind of food to include in your diet for the well-being of your liver.