Location of the liver

The heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys are called the "five internal organs" and are important organs in the human body. If the "five internal organs" are diseased, it will have a great impact on our body, so the symptoms are generally very obvious. Of course, there are exceptions. For example, in the early stages of liver disease, the disease is generally not obvious. In the early stages of liver lesions, there are generally no obvious symptoms because the liver lacks sensitive nerves.

Since liver disease has no obvious symptoms in the early stages, does that mean that liver disease can only be detected in the late stages? In fact, this statement is incorrect. It should be said that liver disease has no obvious symptoms in the early stages, but we can still understand it through certain special examinations, such as physical examinations. Next, let us understand the position of the liver in the human body.

From the perspective of body surface projection, the upper front boundary of the liver is at the fifth rib on the right midclavicular line, and the upper rear boundary is at the level of the eighth thoracic vertebra. On the right midaxillary line at the level of the 6th rib; the anterior lower border of the liver is consistent with the anterior edge of the liver. It starts from the lowest point of the costal arch, goes along the lower edge of the costal arch to the upper left, leaves the costal arch at the junction of the 8th and 9th costal cartilages, obliquely moves to the upper left, to the anterior midline, and to the left to the junction of the costal arch and the 7th and 8th cartilages.

Therefore, during physical examination, the liver cannot be palpated under the costal arch. If the liver is touched under the costal arch, it is mostly pathological hepatomegaly. It is normal for the lower edge of the liver in young children to be exposed under the right rib.

The position of the liver often changes with breathing, usually rising or falling by 2 to 3 centimeters during calm breathing, slightly lowering when standing and inhaling, and slightly rising when lying on your back and exhaling. This is why doctors often ask patients to coordinate their breathing to touch the liver when palpating the patient's liver.

The above is the position of the liver in our human body. From above we can see that the liver is located relatively remotely in our body, but we can also check its general condition through special body position examinations. Of course, since the physical examination is only a relatively simple test, if we need to know the detailed condition of the liver, we need to do other targeted tests.