<P> Terminology related to the liver often starts in hepat - from ἡπατο -, the Greek word for liver . </P> <P> There is currently no way to compensate for the absence of liver function in the long term, although liver dialysis techniques can be used in the short term . Artificial livers are yet to be developed to promote long - term replacement in the absence of the liver . As of 2017, liver transplantation is the only option for complete liver failure . </P> <P> The liver is a reddish - brown wedge - shaped organ with four lobes of unequal size and shape . A human liver normally weighs 1.44--1.66 kg (3.2--3.7 lb), and has a width of about 15 cm . It is both the heaviest internal organ and the largest gland in the human body . Located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity, it rests just below the diaphragm, to the right of the stomach and overlies the gallbladder . </P> <P> The liver is connected to two large blood vessels: the hepatic artery and the portal vein . The hepatic artery carries oxygen - rich blood from the aorta, whereas the portal vein carries blood rich in digested nutrients from the entire gastrointestinal tract and also from the spleen and pancreas . These blood vessels subdivide into small capillaries known as liver sinusoids, which then lead to a lobule . </P>

What is the size of a human liver