Term

1. What are the learning objectives for studying the liver?

Definition

• To understand the anatomy of the liver. • To recognize the signs of acute and chronic liver disease. • To understand the investigation of liver disease. • To know the management of liver trauma and infections. • To know the management of benign and cystic liver lesions, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and colorectal liver metastases....

Term

2. Describe the basic anatomy and physical characteristics of the liver.

Definition

• The liver is a highly complex organ found only in vertebrates, responsible for over 500 functions. • Located in the right upper quadrant, protected by ribs, weighing about 1.5 kg. • Wedge-shaped in coronal and axial planes, divided by the middle hepatic vein into two lobes (right lobe ≈ 60%). • Covered by a thin capsule (Glisson’s capsule) and visceral peritoneum except for the posterior “bare area.” • The right and left lobes are functional units separated by the middle hepatic vein (Cantlie’s line)....

Term

3. What is the embryological origin of the liver and biliary system?

Definition

• Development begins at 3–4 weeks’ gestation from a hepatic foregut diverticulum budding into the ventral wall of the primitive midgut. • This diverticulum forms the liver, extrahepatic biliary ducts, gallbladder, and ventral pancreas. • The basement membrane around the liver bud is lost, and hepatoblasts invade the septum transversum, differentiating into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes....