By Courtney and Larissa  The Liver By Courtney and Larissa 

Anatomical Structure & Location The liver is located in the upper abdomen to the right of the stomach and immediately below the diaphragm.

Structure It is the largest gland in the body. Can be identified by its triangular shape. It is 20cm long and weighs 1.4-1.6kg. It has 4 sections called lobes. From the front the left and right lobes are visible. Situated around the central blood vessels lobules which are composed of hundreds of liver cells. There are 2 blood vessels connected to the liver. One is called the Portal Vein which brings nutrient rich blood straight from the heart. The second blood vessel is called the Hepatic artery which brings oxygen rich blood from the heart to the liver. Blood vessels divide into thousands of tiny branches that pump blood to individual parts of the liver.

Function The liver has many major functions, they are, to break down fats, convert glucose to glycogen, produce urea, make amino acids, filter harmful substances from the blood, it stores minerals and vitamins like B12. It also produces cholesterol. It produces bile, which is stored in the Gall bladder that is used to break down fats.

Useful Links For further knowledge on the liver visit: http://www.mamashealth.com/organs/liver.asp http://www.livertransplantindia.com/about-liver.asp Interative activity http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072507470/student_view0/chapter24/animation__organs_of_digestion.html Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UpRFM5nrlo