Liver Location
The liver is located on the right side of the body. 1
Anatomical Position
The liver occupies the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, positioned predominantly in the right hemidiaphragm region. 1
Key Anatomical Landmarks:
- Primary location: The liver extends from the mid-clavicular line to the posterior axillary line on the right side 1
- Relationship to diaphragm: The liver sits directly beneath the right hemidiaphragm, using it as its superior border 1
- Subcostal position: In most patients, the liver margin lies below the right costal margin in the mid-clavicular line, though this varies 1
Cross-Midline Extension:
While the liver is fundamentally a right-sided organ, portions do cross the midline:
- The left lobe extends across the midline into the epigastric region and can be used as a sonographic window for cardiac imaging 1
- The gallbladder, associated with the liver, may lie anywhere between the midline and the midaxillary line 1
- The top of the liver can consist of both right and left lobes, though it consists only of the right lobe in the majority of cases 2
Clinical Significance:
The right-sided location of the liver has important implications:
- Protective effect: The liver provides protection to the right hemidiaphragm in trauma, making left-sided diaphragmatic injuries more common (50-80%) in blunt trauma survivors 3
- Ultrasound windows: The liver serves as the primary sonographic window for examining the right upper quadrant, including Morison's pouch, the hepatorenal space, and right pleural space 1