208 



ELEMENTARY PHYSIOLOGY 



the cells of the liver. This latter loss, however, is only 

 temporary, and may sooner or later be converted into a 

 gain, for this glycogen very readily passes into sugar, and 

 either in that form or in some other way is carried off by 

 the blood. In this respect, therefore, there is a gain to 

 the blood of kind or quality though not of quantity of 

 material. 



The liver is the largest glandular organ in the body, 

 ordinarily weighing about 1,400-1,700 grammes (fifty or 

 sixty ounces). It is a broad, dark, red-coloured organ, 

 which lies on the right side of the body, immediately below 



Fio. 63.— The liver Tuknep Up and Viewed from Below. 



a, vena cava ; b, vena portse ; c, bile duct ; d, hepatic artery ; I, gall- 

 bladder. The termination of the hepatic vein in the vena cava is not 

 seen, being covered by the piece of the vena cava. 



the diaphragm, with which its upper surface is in contact, 

 while its lower surface touches the intestines and the right ' 

 kidney. 



The liver is invested by a coat of peritoneum, which keeps 

 it in place. It is flattened from above downwards and 

 convex and smooth above, where it fits into the concavity 

 of the lower surface of the diaphragm. Flat and irregular 

 below (Fig. 63), it is thick behind, but ends in a thin edge 

 in front. 



Viewed from below, as in Fig. 63, the inferior vena 



