The liver is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen.
Liver Location: A Detailed Overview
The liver, the largest internal organ, sits beneath the diaphragm and above the stomach, right kidney, and intestines. Several sources confirm this placement:
- Stanford Children's Health: Describes the liver as being in the "upper right part of the belly (abdomen)." https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=anatomy-and-function-of-the-liver-90-P03069
- MedlinePlus: While discussing abdominal masses, it implicitly positions the liver in the upper right by noting that cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), which often causes pain near the liver, manifests as a mass "felt below the liver" in the right-lower quadrant. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003274.htm
- Wikipedia: States that the liver is located under the lower right rib cage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver
It's important to note that while the liver is primarily in the right upper quadrant, a small portion might extend slightly beyond this area. However, its main mass is firmly situated on the right side. The reference mentioning left and right liver sections in the context of liver resection https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35681768/ only highlights surgical divisions, not a significant leftward position of the main liver mass.
In summary, while the question implies a simple binary choice (left or right), the reality is more nuanced. The liver’s location is predominantly in the upper right abdomen.
