Liver diseases

Adresse

Switzerland

  • Surgery Department
    The Division of Digestive Surgery
    Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4
    1205 Geneva - Suisse


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    Monday to Friday from 9:30 am -11:30 am and from 14:00 pm - 16:00 pm

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Christian Toso
Professor
Christian Toso
Head of Division

Located below the ribs, in the upper right part of the abdomen, the liver is the largest organ in the human body. It is made up of eight segments distributed in two lobes (the left and the right lobes).

The liver acts as a factory, providing the human body with a multitude of essential functions, including the synthesis of proteins (among them: blood coagulation factors), blood detoxification, the storage and regulation of sugar, the storage and regulation of lipids, and the storage of various vitamins (vitamin A) and minerals. 

In addition, the liver produces bile . A surplus of bile is stored in the gallbladder, which is attached to the liver, and is then excreted in the common bile duct which ends up in the duodenum at the level of the ampulla of Vater (along with the pancreatic duct).

The liver is also capable of self-regeneration: when a diseased part of the liver is removed, for example during surgery, the remaining liver  «grows back» with healthy tissue. The degree of recovery of liver functions, however, depends on the health status of the patient and the organ before the operation. 

Bile
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which helps in the digestion of fats, the absorption of various compounds and the detoxification of ammonium. 
INFO +  Diseases of the bladder and bile ducts
Last update : 03/01/2022