Liver Cirrhosis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Liver Cirrhosis - Research Paper ExampleThe LiverWeighing nigh 1.4 kg, i.e. about 3 lb in adults, the liver is the heaviest organ of the human body. It is also the second oversizedst organ, skin being the first. It is located below the rib cage at the right hand side of the body. To be precise, it occupies part of the epigastric regions in the abdomino-pelvic cavity and part of the hypochondriac region (Tortora and Derrickson, 2008, p. 945). A healthy liver is an highly important asset for an individuals health and well-being. As Chopra (2001) writes, the liver is akin to a master conductor who is orchestrating a number of essential functions, working(a) as a central manufacturing factory, a processing plant for toxic waste and even as a wargonhouse, all at the aforesaid(prenominal) time (p. 4). Anatomy of the Liver The liver has two irregularly sized lobes the larger right lobe, and the smaller left lobe. The two lobes are separated by a fold of mesentery, forming the smooth fa lciform ligament (Tortora and Derrickson, 2008, p. 945). The right lobe is five to six times bigger than the left lobe. The liver has a smooth texture and is a vascular organ rich in blood vessels that impart it a reddish brown color. It has an intricate and interconnected network of liver cells called hepatocytes, along with large amounts of ducts and veins (Chopra, 2001, p. 4).... 4). Anatomy of the Liver The liver has two irregularly sized lobes the larger right lobe, and the smaller left lobe. The two lobes are separated by a fold of mesentery, forming the smooth falciform ligament (Tortora and Derrickson, 2008, p. 945). The right lobe is five to six times bigger than the left lobe. The liver has a smooth texture and is a vascular organ rich in blood vessels that impart it a reddish brown color. It has an intricate and interconnected network of liver cells called hepatocytes, along with large amounts of ducts and veins (Chopra, 2001, p. 4). The hepatocytes, which are the princi pal liver cells, constitute almost 70% of the entire mass of the liver and are derived from the embryonic endoderm (Zorn, 2008, para. 3). Although some anatomists believe that the right lobe has an lacking(p) quadrate lobe and a posterior caudate lobe, studies based on internal morphology and the distribution of blood vessels reveal that these two lobes more appropriately locomote to the left lobe (Tortora and Derrickson, 2008, p. 945). The smooth falciform ligament that divides the two lobes of the liver extends from below the diaphragm, thereby helping the liver to stay suspended in the abdominal cavity. A tear ligament, called the ligamentum teres, which is a remnant of the fetal umbilical vein, is present in the free border of the falciform ligament and extends from the liver to the umbilicus. A pear-shaped sac called the gall vesica is located in a depression that is present on the posterior surface of the liver. It hangs from the anterior-inferior margin of the liver and m easures 7-10 cm. An analysis of liver histology reveals that it consists of bile canaliculi and hepatic sinusoids, apart(predicate) from hepatocytes. The hepatocytes (liver cells) are