How many lobes are in a liver?

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From the Guidelines

The human liver is typically described as having four lobes, including the right lobe, left lobe, caudate lobe, and quadrate lobe. These lobes are not always strictly defined, as the liver can be divided in different ways for surgical purposes, such as in liver transplantation 1. The right and left lobes are the main lobes, while the caudate and quadrate lobes are smaller and considered subdivisions of the right lobe by some anatomical classifications.

  • The liver's lobar organization corresponds to its blood supply and biliary drainage patterns, with each lobe having its own vascular and biliary connections.
  • This anatomical arrangement is important for surgical planning when partial liver resections or transplants are necessary, as surgeons must consider these natural anatomical divisions.
  • In the context of liver transplantation, the liver can be divided into different parts, such as a right lobe that includes segment IV and a partial left graft that includes segments II and III 1. However, from an anatomical standpoint, the four-lobe structure of the liver is the most commonly accepted classification, allowing the liver to efficiently perform its many vital functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion.

From the Research

Liver Structure

  • The liver is a vital organ with a complex structure, but the provided studies do not directly mention the number of lobes in a liver 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Available Information

  • The studies focus on liver imaging, diagnosis of liver diseases, and the role of different imaging modalities such as CT, MRI, and US in detecting liver lesions and hepatocellular carcinoma 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Limitations

  • There are no research papers among the provided evidence that directly answer the question of how many lobes are in a liver 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Liver cancer imaging: role of CT, MRI, US and PET.

Cancer imaging : the official publication of the International Cancer Imaging Society, 2004

Research

Basic MRI for the liver oncologists and surgeons.

Journal of hepatocellular carcinoma, 2017

Research

CT and MRI improve detection of hepatocellular carcinoma, compared with ultrasound alone, in patients with cirrhosis.

Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 2011

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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