The human liver is a somewhat triangular-shaped organ that is located mainly in the upper right part of the abdomen, just under the base of the right lung separated by the muscular diaphragm. It is difficult to completely classify the liver under a specific system due to it versatility. Although it is largely associated >> Read More ...
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and may be due to a number of insults, from chemical irritants, to infections and autoimmune mechanisms. Viral hepatitis is one of the most common forms of liver inflammation and is caused by an infection with a virus. Although many different types of viruses can cause viral >> Read More ...
The liver, apart from being versatile, is a highly resilient organ. It is able to withstand a range of chemical insults on a daily basis and one of its core functions is to reduce the toxic effect of various noxious substances. Despite its ability to neutralize chemical agents and regenerate more prolifically than many >> Read More ...
There are five main types of hepatitis viruses that can infect the liver and cause inflammation. Some of these will cause acute inflammation and resolves spontaneously or with minimal treatment and there is no risk of chronic infection. Others may present with an acute phase but chronic infection persists for life and may >> Read More ...
The liver is a versatile organ that metabolizes nutrients, wastes, toxins, drugs and other substances. It has various secondary roles including acting as a reservoir for blood. The liver has a complex architecture involving lobules containing hepatocytes (liver cells) and weighs about 1.6 kg (2.5% of the average adult body >> Read More ...
What is a liver abscess? A liver abscess, also known as a hepatic abscess, is an accumulation of pus within the liver as a result of an infection. Overall liver abscesses are fairly rare and more frequently seen in developing nations. Most liver abscesses are caused by bacteria and amebic parasites (protozoa). However, >> Read More ...
Cholesterol in the body is thought of as originating solely from the diet through absorption from the gut. However, the reality is that most of the cholesterol is not sourced from food but rather manufactured within the body. Dietary cholesterol or exogenous cholesterol is absorbed from within the intestines. Endogenous >> Read More ...
What is a bile duct cyst? Bile ducts cysts, also known as choledochal cysts, are abnormal dilatations of the bile ducts especially the common bile duct. It is a congential anomaly, meaning that it is present from birth, and up to 20% of cases can remain asymptomatic until adulthood. These abnormal dilatations may involve >> Read More ...
There are five types of hepatitis viruses which cause inflammation of the liver. These viruses are designated as hepatitis A, B, C, D or E, with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) being the more common cause of viral hepatitis. A person may be infected by these viruses through various methods of transmission. This almost always >> Read More ...
The hepatitis A virus or HAV is one of the five types of hepatitis viruses that infects the liver and causes inflammation. It is a highly infectious virus belonging to the picornavirus group of enteroviruses. Although hepatitis A is seen as the one of the least dangerous of the hepatitis viruses, it should not be ignored >> Read More ...
