* The equine liver is a large, reddish-brown organ located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, beneath the diaphragm.
* It is divided into two main lobes, the left and right lobes, by the falciform ligament.
* The left lobe is larger than the right lobe and extends cranially to the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra.
* The right lobe extends caudally to the level of the 16th thoracic vertebra.
* The liver is covered by a thin, fibrous capsule called Glisson's capsule.
* The hilus of the liver is located on the ventral surface of the right lobe and is where the portal vein, hepatic artery, and common bile duct enter and leave the liver.
Internal Anatomy
* The liver is composed of hepatic lobules, which are the functional units of the liver.
* Each hepatic lobule is composed of a central vein, which is surrounded by a ring of hepatocytes.
* The hepatocytes are polygonal cells that are responsible for the various functions of the liver, such as the production of bile, detoxification of drugs and toxins, and storage of nutrients.
* The portal veins and hepatic arteries supply blood to the hepatic lobules, while the common bile duct drains bile from the lobules.
Blood Supply
* The liver is supplied with blood by the portal vein and the hepatic artery.
* The portal vein carries deoxygenated blood from the gastrointestinal tract, spleen, and pancreas to the liver.
* The hepatic artery carries oxygenated blood to the liver.
* The portal vein and hepatic artery merge together at the hilus of the liver and then branch out into smaller vessels that supply blood to the hepatic lobules.
Bile Ducts
* The liver produces bile, which is a fluid that helps to digest fats.
* Bile is transported from the hepatic lobules to the common bile duct, which then drains bile into the duodenum.
* The common bile duct is joined by the cystic duct from the gallbladder, which stores and concentrates bile.
Innervation
* The liver is innervated by the hepatic plexus, which is a network of nerves that arises from the celiac plexus.
* The hepatic plexus supplies sensory and motor innervation to the liver.