| liver | A solid organ located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The liver plays a major role in metabolism, digestion, detoxification and elimination of substances from the body. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| liver abscess | A condition where there is a pus-filled cavity in the liver secondary to a bacterial infection. Liver abscess may result from sepsis, intestinal perforation, post-operative infection, appendicitis, diverticulitis, trauma (to the liver) or cholangitis. Other nonbacterial causes of liver abscess include amoebiasis, due to infection with Entamoeba histolytica (protozoan). (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver abscess, amebic | Liver abscess caused by entamoeba histolytica. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver acinus | The smallest functional unit of the liver, comprising all of the liver parenchyma supplied by a terminal branch of the portal vein and hepatic artery; typically involves segments of two lobules lying between two terminal hepatic venules. Synonym: Rappaport's acinus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liver anatomy | <radiology> Main lobar fissure: plane connecting gall bladder bed and IVC (Cantlie line), middle hepatic vein runs here, divides right and left lobes, right hepatic vein: divides anterior and posterior segments of the, right lobe, falciform ligament: divides medial and lateral segments of the left lobe, contains ligmentum teres, caudate lobe: bounded posteriorly by fossa of IVC and anteriorly by the, fissure of the ligamentum venosum (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver breath | A peculiar odour to the breath in persons with severe liver disease; caused by volatile aromatic substances that accumulate in the blood and urine due to defective hepatic metabolism. Synonym: liver breath. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liver bud | The primordial cellular diverticulum of the embryonic foregut endoderm that gives rise to the parenchyma of the liver. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liver calcifications | <radiology> TB / histoplasmosis, chronic granulomatous disease of childhood (CGD), echinococcal (hydatid) cyst, portal vein thrombosis, metastatic adenocarcinoma, giant haemangioma, hepatoblastoma (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver cancer | <oncology, tumour> A tumour of the liver. most cancer involving the liver is spread (metastatic) from other areas (colon, breast or lung). See: hepatoma. (27 Sep 1997) |
| liver cell | Usually implies hepatocytes, even though other cell types are found in the liver Kupffer cells for example). Hepatocytes are relatively unspecialised epithelial cells and are the biochemist's typical animal cell. (18 Nov 1997) |
| liver cell carcinoma | <tumour> A carcinoma derived from parenchymal cells of the liver. Synonym: hepatocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cell carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liver circulation | The circulation of blood through the vessels of the liver. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver cirrhosis | Liver disease in which the normal microcirculation, the gross vascular anatomy, and the hepatic architecture have been variably destroyed and altered with fibrous septa surrounding regenerated or regenerating parenchymal nodules. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver cirrhosis, alcoholic | Liver cirrhosis in alcoholics. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver cirrhosis, biliary | Liver cirrhosis in which there is interference with intrahepatic bile flow. It includes primary biliary cirrhosis, an intrahepatic disturbance of bile secretion affecting predominantly middle-aged women and with segmental destruction and, later, absence of septal bile ducts (cirrhosis is the end stage); and secondary biliary cirrhosis, which is produced by prolonged mechanical obstruction of large intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute yellow atrophy of the liver | A lesion in which there is extensive and rapid death of parenchymal cells of the liver, sometimes with fatty degeneration of the size of the organ; the necrosis may result from fulminant viral infection or chemical poisoning; associated with jaundice. Synonym: acute parenchymatous hepatitis, Rokitansky's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| adenoma, liver cell | A benign epithelial tumour of the liver. (12 Dec 1998) |
| alcoholic liver disease | <gastroenterology> Alcoholic cirrhosis is a condition of irreversible liver disease due to the chronic inflammatory and toxic effects of ethanol on the liver. In cirrhosis, the liver cells are replaced by fibrous scar tissue. Fibrosis leads to the development of portal hypertension. The development of cirrhosis is directly related to the duration and quantity of alcohol consumption. The manifestations of cirrhosis are related to the liver's inability to not adequately remove waste products from the bloodstream and the effects of portal hypertension. (15 Nov 1997) |
| anterior part of diaphragmatic surface of liver | The part of the diaphragmatic surface of the liver deep to the costal arches and the xiphoid process. Synonym: pars anterior faciei diaphragmatis hepatis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bare area of liver | The area on the posterior surface of the liver which is fused with the diaphragm and therefore not covered by peritoneum. Synonym: area nuda hepatis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign liver tumours | <radiology> EPITHELIAL TUMORS, nodular transformation, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatocellular adenoma, MESENCHYMAL TUMORS, lipoma, myelolipoma, angiomyolipoma, leiomyoma, infantile haemangioendothelioma, haemangioma, benign mesothelioma, MIXED TISSUE TUMORS, mesenchymal hamartoma, benign teratoma, MISCELLANEOUS, adrenal rest tumours, pancreatic rest (12 Dec 1998) |
| calcified liver metastases | <radiology> Mucinous carcinoma of GI tract (colon, rectum, stomach), endocrine pancreatic carcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, malignant melanoma, papillary serous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma, lymphoma, pleural mesothelioma, neuroblastoma, breast carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, lung carcinoma, testicular carcinoma see: liver metastases (12 Dec 1998) |
| capsular cirrhosis of liver | Chronic perihepatitis with thickening and subsequent contraction, resulting in atrophy and deformity of the liver. Synonym: capsular cirrhosis of liver. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac impression of liver | A depression on the superior area of the diaphragmatic surface of the liver corresponding to the position of the heart. Synonym: impressio cardiaca hepatis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac liver | An extensive fibrotic reaction within the liver as a result of chronic constrictive pericarditis or prolonged congestive heart failure; true cirrhosis with fibrous bridging of lobules is unusual. Synonym: cardiac liver, congestive cirrhosis, pseudocirrhosis, stasis cirrhosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| malignant liver tumours | <radiology> EPITHELIAL TUMORS, hepatocellular, hepatoblastoma (7%), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (75%), cholangiocellular (6%), cholangiocarcinomarcinoma, cystadenocarcinoma, MESENCHYMAL TUMORS, tumours of blood vessels, angiosarcoma, haemangioendothelioma, other tumours, embryonal sarcoma, fibrosarcoma, TUMORS OF MUSCLE TISSUE, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, MISCELLANEOUS, carcinosarcoma, teratoma, yolk sac tumour, carcinoid, squamous carcinoma, primary lymphoma see: benign liver tumours (12 Dec 1998) |
| veno-occlusive disease of the liver | Obliterating endophlebitis of small hepatic vein radicles, described in Jamaican children, associated with ingestion of toxic plant substances in bush tea; causes ascites, which may progress to cirrhosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| venous segments of liver | Each of the four territories of the liver separately drained by the hepatic veins. Synonym: hepatic venous segments. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cavernous haemangioma of liver | <radiology> Ultrasound: increased echogenicity, CT: decreased density, enhances from periphery, becomes isodense, may enlarge during pregnancy, in kids: most common benign liver tumour, increased morbidity/mortality, classic triad: hepatomegaly, cut. Haemangiomas, congestive heart failure, with or without liver bruit, may rupture leading to haemoperitoneum, may regress spontaneously (as may haemangioendothelioma) (12 Dec 1998) |
| visceral surface of liver | The posteroinferior surface of the liver that faces adjacent abdominal organs; the porta hepatis and gallbladder are located on this surface. Synonym: facies visceralis hepatis. (05 Mar 2000) |