LIVER. 



diaphragm defcend?, tiic liver is carried downwards ; and it The fupcrior or convex fiirface, is convex, and adapted 



moves ill the contrary direclion again when this mufcle pafles every where to the hollow of the diaphragm, to which it is 



towards the chell. In the latter Rate, the thin edge of the contiguous throughout, except at the back part, in the fi- 



liver is completely covered by the margin of the cheft : tuation of the coronary ligament, where it adheres firmly 



hence, when we widi to p.refs on the liver, we direft the to the organ. The convexity is much greater behind and 



patient to infpire ftrongly, tliat its edge may be thrull below towards tlie right, than in front and on ihe left. Its par- 



the ribs. EfFufion into the chell drives downwards both the ticular direftioii is fuch, that on the left it is tUrned upwards' 



diaphragm and liver: dropfy, pregnancy, or any other fwell- and rath;'r forwards; in the middle upwards and rather 



ings in the abdomen, purti them up towards the cheft. more forwards ; and on tlie right, backwards, upwards 



When the ftomach and intcllines are empty, the liver and outwards. It is divided into two parts, called lobes, 



defcends : in the oppoiite llate of thefe parts it is puHied by the broad ligament ; the right divifion, which is verv 



upwards : hence the defcent of the diaphragm is performed much the largeft, forms the right or great lobe ; and the 



Icfs eafiiy after a full meal. In any erect polture of the left the left or fniall lobe. 



trunk, the liver defcends about two finger's breadths, and The inferior or concave furface is a little inclined back- 

 is higher in about the fame proportion in the recumbent pof- wards,' rather lefs extenfive than the preceding, and (lightlv 

 ture. Wken we He on the right fide, the liver is fuoported and unequally concave. It exhibits eminences and de- 

 in the concavity of the correfponding falfe ribs, and prefles prelTions, arifing apparently from the relations of the organ 

 on none of the furrounding organs ; hence we commonly to the furrouiiding parts, and deep notches giving paflage 

 fleep in that attitude. In lying on the other fide, the to blood-vcflels, which, as in all important vifcera, are 

 weight of the liver comes upon the ftomach, which pro- formed in the moft concealed iltuation about the organ, 

 duces unpleafant feelings after a meal. Be'ides thefe changes The following are t'.ie objects which this furface prcfents 

 of pofition, which may happen generally in any fubjects, in fucccflion from left to right. In their figure and arrann-e- 

 there are others of a more peculiar and individual nature, ment they are fubject to fuch numerous varieties, that 



ariling from different uze of the organ, greater or lets con- 

 cavity of the diaphragm. Sec. However the pofition may 

 be altered, the relations to furrounding parts are the fame. 



The volume of the organ varies according to age, reji- 

 men, and difeafe. The former varieties will be confidered in 

 fpeaking of its developement. In general, it is the largell 



hardly any two livers agree together in this refpecl. 



1. A broad fuperficial deprefTion correfponding to the 

 fuperior furface of the llomach, and belonging to the left 

 lobe. 



2. The horizontal fiftiire or longitudinal groove (foffa 

 umbilicalis or longitudinalis, or iiniltra) divides all the in- 



and heavieft vifciis in the abdomen. It has been obfervcd ferior furiace from before backward?, from the anterior edge 

 to be largeft in thofe who lead an iiiaftive life, and who in- to the left fide of the palfage of the inferior vena cava, 

 dulge in the pleafures of the table : the ancient epicures and thus marks the feparation of the right and left lobes on 

 ufed to produce an inordinate growth of the liver in geefe their furface. The fides are fometimes partially united bv 

 by particular diet and management. But the moft remark- a fmall portion of liver, fo as to form a canal. Its anterior 

 able variations in the fize of the liver are thofe which occur part lodges the umbilical vein, and the pofterior narrower 

 in chronic difeafes : fometimes it is diminilhed and very portion (toffa ductiim venofi) contains the canalis venofus, 

 manifertly indurated ; much more frequently it is enlarged, which, like that vein, is changed in the adult into a kind of 

 foxetimes fo much as to weigh ten or twelve or even more ligament. 



pounds. When it increafes in this way, it ufually takes up 3. The great tranfverfe fiffure (foffa tranfverfa, or vena 

 a proportionally greater room in the abdomen. Boyer, portarum,) is placed nearer to the potlerior than to the an- 

 however, faw it weighing eleven pounds, without having terior edge, and runs from right to left in the direttion of 

 paifed beyond the edge of the cheft : it had driven the dia- the great diameter of the inferior furface, of which it occu- 

 phragm upwards, alnioll to the firft rib, and had reduced pies about the middle third portion. It interfefts the hori- 

 the right lung to a very fmall voUinie. The fubjeCt was ex- zontal filTure at right angles. Its depth is confiderablc, 

 ceedingly fat. (Traitc d'Anatomie, torn. iv. p. 393.) The particularly in the middle, and it is never covered by thofe 

 ordinary weight of the liver in a liealthy adult is about three tranfverfe bridge-like portions, which have been mentioned^ 

 pounds : Soemmerring fays it may vary from two to five in the former fifl'ure. It is occupied bv tlie trunk and firll' 

 poHnds. Its fpecific gravity is to that of water as 15203 divifion of the vena portarum, by the primary ramifications 

 to 1 0000. of the hepatic artery, and by the biliary tabes, which unite 



The colour is a brownifti-red, often inclining towards at their departure from the liver into a fingle duft. The 

 yellow. It is infltienced very confiderably by the quantity lymphatics and nerves of the liver are fc'cn alfo in this fitua- 

 of blocd in the veffels, and conlequently is different in dif- tion. Thefe parts are aii united, by a tolerably clofe cellular 

 ■fcrent modes of death. The organ is very pale in death tiflue. 



from hemorrhage, and of a deep colour in cales where its 4. Two eminences, fometimes called porta:, of which 

 venous fyilein is much dillended. Its deviations from the one is placed before and the other behind the middle of t!ie 

 brovvn-red, which conlHtutes the proper liver colour, are great trrinfvcrfe fiffure. The former (lobulus quadratus or 

 generally into lighter and particularly yellow, tints. The anonyn-.us) is broad and llightly elevated, refembles a m'>re 

 edges and i^.ferior furface are often quite livid. The colour or lefs regular parallelogram, and varies in fize, according 

 on tlie whole is clearer the younger the individual. as the gall-bladder and tranfverfe fiflure, which bound it. 



The figure of the liver i> fo irregular, that it is not eafy are more or lefs approximated. It extends even to the front 

 to delcribe it with clearnefs : we may ftate generally th;it edge, and feparater, the anterior half of the horizontal fiffure 

 it is thick towards the right and back part, thin towards from the gall-bladder. The other eminence has been called 

 the left and front, flattened from above downwards, and the fmall lobe of the liver, (lobulus Spigehi or papillatus. ) 

 elongated rather obhqucly from the right and below, to- It is fometimes triangular and fometimes quadrilateral in its 

 ■wards the left and upwards. We dilUnguilh in it a fuperior figure. It is more prominent than the preceding, and placed at 

 and inferior furface, an anterior and a poftcrior edge, a right the pofterior edge of the hver, under the trunk of the vena 

 and a left extremity. portarum. It is fingle in this fituation, and rells on the \er- 



tebra-. 



