The liver is an abdominal glandular organ in the digestive system. It is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, under the diaphragm and on top of the stomach. The liver is a vital organ that supports nearly every other organ to some capacity. Show The liver is the body's second-largest organ (skin is the largest organ), according to the American Liver Foundation (ALF) (opens in new tab), weighing about 3 lbs. (1.4 kilograms). At any given moment, the liver holds about 1 pint (half a liter) of blood — about 13 percent of the body's blood supply, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine (opens in new tab). The liver is shaped like a football, or a cone, and consists of two main lobes. Each lobe has eight segments that consist of 1,000 small lobes, or lobules, according to Johns Hopkins. The lobules are connected to ducts that transport bile to the gallbladder and small intestine. Function"The liver has a complex role in the function of the body," said Jordan Knowlton, an advanced registered nurse practitioner at the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital. "Detoxification, metabolism (including regulation of glycogen storage), hormone regulation, protein synthesis, digestion, and decomposition of red blood cells, to name a few."  In fact, more than 500 vital functions have been identified with the liver, according to Johns Hopkins, including:
DetoxificationOne of the best-known roles of the liver is as a detoxification system. It removes toxic substances from blood, such as alcohol and drugs, according to the Canadian Liver Foundation (opens in new tab). It also breaks down hemoglobin, insulin and excessive hormones to keep hormone levels in balance. Additionally, it destroys old blood cells. Related articles How alcohol & gut fungus team up to damage your liver 5 Diets That Fight Diseases The Human Body: Anatomy, facts & functions The liver is vital for healthy metabolic function. It metabolizes carbohydrates, lipids and proteins into useful substances, such as glucose, cholesterol, phospholipids and lipoproteins that are used in various cells throughout the body, according to Colorado State University's Department of Biomedical Sciences (opens in new tab). The liver breaks down the unusable parts of proteins and converts them into ammonia, and eventually urea. Liver diseaseThe hepatitis C virus is one cause of liver disease. (Image credit: Getty Images)According to the Canadian Liver Foundation (opens in new tab), there are more than 100 types of liver disease, and they are caused by a variety of factors, such as viruses, toxins, genetics, alcohol and unknown causes. The following are among the most common types of liver disease:
According to the National Institutes of Health (opens in new tab) (NIH), one symptom of liver disease is jaundice — yellowish skin and eyes. Other symptoms include abdominal pain and swelling, persistent itchy skin, dark urine, pale stools, bloody or black stools, exhaustion, bruising easily, nausea and loss of appetite. Fatty liverThis light micrograph of a fatty liver shows liver cells with large vacuoles of triglyceride fat inside. (Image credit: Getty Images)There are two types of fatty liver, according to the Cleveland Clinic (opens in new tab): that caused by excessive alcohol consumption (fatty liver) and that which is not (non-alcoholic fatty liver or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). Speaking of both conditions, Knowlton said, "Some fat on the liver is normal, but when it starts to accumulate to greater than 5-10 percent, it can lead to permanent liver damage and cirrhosis." It also increases the chance of liver failure or liver cancer. Fatty liver "can be caused by genetics, obesity, diet, hepatitis, or alcohol abuse," said Knowlton. Other risk factors include rapid weight loss, diabetes, high cholesterol, or high trigycerides, according to the ALF. Some people may get fatty liver even if they don't have any risk factors. 25-30 percent of the U.S. population suffers from fatty liver disease, according to the University of Michigan Health System (opens in new tab). There are no medical treatments for fatty liver disease, though avoiding alcohol, eating a healthy diet, and exercising can help prevent or reverse fatty liver disease in its early stages. Enlarged liverAccording to the Mayo Clinic (opens in new tab), an enlarged liver (or hepatomegaly) isn't a disease itself, but a sign of an underlying serious problem, such as liver disease, cancer or congestive heart failure. There may be no symptoms of an enlarged liver, though if they are they are the same as the symptoms for liver disease. Normally, the liver cannot be felt unless you take a deep breath, but if it is enlarged, your doctor may be able to feel it, according to the NIH. The doctor may then do scans, MRIs, or ultrasounds of the abdomen to determine if you have an enlarged liver. Treatment will involve addressing the underlying problem. Liver painLiver pain is often confused with general abdominal pain. (Image credit: Getty Images)Liver pain is felt in the upper right area of the abdomen, just below the ribs. Usually, it is a dull, vague pain though it can sometimes be quite severe and may cause a backache, according to the Cleveland Clinic (opens in new tab). Sometimes people perceive it as pain in the right shoulder. It is often confused with general abdominal pain, back pain or kidney pain, according to New Health Guide (opens in new tab). It can be hard to pinpoint the exact location or cause of such pains, so it is important to see a doctor. Doctors may do blood tests, ultrasounds or biopsies to determine the cause of pain. Liver pain can be the result of a variety of causes. Some common causes are: ascites (fluid in the abdomen), cirrhosis, hepatitis, liver failure, enlarged liver, liver abscess, and liver tumors. Liver failureLiver failure is an urgent, life-threatening medical condition. It means that the liver has lost or is losing all of its function. "Livers typically fail gradually," said Knowlton, "but sometimes [it] can be rapid." Early symptoms of liver failure are general, making it difficult to know that the liver is failing. Knowlton said, "Symptoms of liver failure may include nausea, appetite changes, fatigue, diarrhea, jaundice, easy bleeding." As the condition worsens, she said symptoms might include "mental confusion and coma." "Typical causes of liver failure include Tylenol overdose, viruses, hepatitis B & C, cirrhosis, alcoholism, and some medications," said Knowlton. Georgia's Emory Healthcare (opens in new tab) stated that there are two types of liver failure: chronic and acute. Chronic liver failure is the most common type of liver failure. It is the result of malnutrition, disease and cirrhosis, and it can develop slowly over years. Acute liver failure is rarer, and it can come on suddenly. Acute liver failure is usually the result of poisoning or a drug overdose, according to the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology (opens in new tab). Liver failure treatments depend on the case. Knowlton said, "Treatment options are mostly supportive (hospitalization and treatment until the liver recovers), but ultimately may require liver transplantation." What does pain under the right rib cage mean?Pain below your ribs can be caused by your GI tract, like GERD, indigestion, gallbladder disease, or constipation, or problems with your lungs, like pneumonia. You may also have nausea, bloating, chest pain, coughing, or pain that's worse when you breathe in.
Can the liver cause pain just under the right ribcage?Most people with liver disease report abdominal pain. Pain in your liver itself can feel like a dull throbbing pain or a stabbing sensation in your right upper abdomen just under your ribs.
What organ is directly under your right rib?The liver is located under the ribs on the right hand side of the body. It lies just below the lungs, under the top of the diaphragm to which it is attached. The diaphragm is the muscle beneath the lungs which regulates our breathing.
What could cause right side rib pain?The most common causes of rib cage pain are a pulled muscle or bruised ribs. Other causes of pain in the rib cage area may include: broken ribs. injuries to the chest.
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What organ is under my right rib
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