Liver

(liv'ür.) [From A.S. lifer.] (Anat.) The largest gland in the body, and the organ by which the bile is formed(Fig. 449). It is very heavy, of a brownish-red color, and occupies the whole of the right hypochondrium and a part of the epigastrium. Above, it corresponds to the diaphragm; below, to the stomach, 1 transverse colon, and right kidney; behind, to the vertebral column; and before, to the base of the chest. Its upper surface is convex; the lower, irregularly 2 2 -3 4 6 5 8 7 Fig. 449.- TRANSVERSAL VIEW OF THE THORACIC AND ABDOMINAL CAVITIES. 1, Heart; 2, 2, lungs, drawn sideways to show the heart; 3, diaphragm; 4, liver; 5, gall-bladder; 6, stomach; 7, small intestine; 8, colon. convex and concave. The hepatic artery and vena porta furnish it with the blood nece ary for its nutrition and the secretion of bile. The hepatic veins convey away the blood which has served those purposes. Besides bile, the L. forms sugar, and is a great a imilating organ. It is liable to a number of diseases. The pp. are: hepatitis or inflammation, cancer, biliary calculi, encysted or other tumors or tubercles, . [s. 549] IMG:p0594_0.jpg:Gravür