154 



ELEMENTARY PHYSIOLOGY 



convex surface fitting closely against the under and concave 

 surface of the diaphragm. 



The liver consists of two parts called lobes the right and the 

 left. Of these the right is much larger than the left. The former 

 also extends well over the right upper portion of the abdomen, 

 while the latter is not large enough to reach the left side of 

 the body, although it lies over a considerable portion of the 

 stomach. 



The upper, convex surface of the liver is very smooth and 

 regular ; but the under surface is very irregular, and is broken 



Fig. 140. The Under Surface of the Liver. 



i, right lobe ; 2, left lobe ; 3, gall-bladder; 4, vena cava inferior ; 5, portal vein ; 

 6, hepatic artery ; 7, hepatic duct. 



by the entrance and exit of the various vessels which belong to 

 the organ. 



The liver is extremely well supplied with blood vessels, and in 

 it the blood is deprived of a large quantity of the impurities which 

 it has gathered from various parts of the body. 



It is almost entirely surrounded by the peritoneum, which 

 invests it loosely. 



The vessels of the liver are 



(1) The portal vein. 



(2) The hepatic artery. 



(3) The hepatic vein. 



(4) The hepatic duct. 



The first three of these are blood-vessels, and the last conveys 



