Where Is the Liver Located?

The answer to the question "where is the liver located?" is – just on the upper-right portion of abdominal cavity. It is beneath the diaphragm, above the stomach and a small part of the liver extends to the upper left quadrant of the abdominal cavity.

Besides knowing "where is the liver located", it is also important to know where the liver pain location is. Therefore, your doctor can make correct diagnosis. The pain is felt in the upper right quadrant of the abdominal cavity, just below the rib cage. The pain is also called as hepatalgia and is usually vague and dull. The pain can become severe and sharp accompanied with a back ache.

Liver is covered with a capsule on which pain receptors are placed, and when pressure is exerted on them, liver pain occurs. Liver pain can be easily confused with kidney, stomach or back pain.

The other types of pain which occur in the upper right quadrant are abdominal disorders, pancreatitis, intestinal pain and formation of gall stones. Sometimes liver pain can also manifest as right shoulder pain.

There are various symptoms associated with liver pain, though a person may not experience all of them. These symptoms can indicate presence of serious liver problem as well. Some of the commonly seen symptoms are:

• Pain in the abdomen, back and shoulder

• Dark circles around eyes, itchy and yellow eyes

• Discolored skin which is associated with liver spots or jaundice

• Excess sweating

• Bad breath and body odor

• Red palms and soles which cause itching

• Liver inflammation caused by viral infection or Hepatitis

• Accumulation of fat in the liver causes inflammation, which causes liver pain. This is called fatty liver or steatosis and can be caused due to excess consumption of alcohol

• Alcoholic liver disease or hepatic cirrhosis caused by excess intake of alcohol

• Gall stone disease

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Problems in the bile duct

• Pneumonia of the right lower lung

• High acidity which causes inflammation of the intestine

• Ascites, which causes fluid accumulation in the abdomen

• Hepatic fibrosis, in which the liver scarring occurs

• Hepatic cysts, which cause pain but are usually harmless

• Toxicity caused by side effect of prescribed drugs, such as Acetaminophen which is a medicine for head ache and sinus congestion

• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, which is a chronic disease affecting the bile ducts present inside and outside the liver

• Genetic disorders like Hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease can cause liver disorder and lead to liver failure

• Liver cancer

One of the primary functions of the liver is removing the toxins from the body. When the liver is not functioning properly, the toxins accumulated in the body due to improper digestion can cause further liver damage. One of the best methods to keep the normal functioning of the liver is performing a liver detox or cleansing by lifestyle and dietary changes.

• Avoid alcohol, spicy and oily or sugary foods and stimulants like tea and coffee. Spicy and oily food causes inflammation of the liver lining and alcohol causes toxins which further damages the liver causing pain.

• Choose simple food which does not put pressure on the liver. This will remove the accumulated toxins and makes the system clean and helps in improving the digestion and overall liver functioning. The following foods which help keep your liver healthy are recommended to be added in your diet:

  Green leafy vegetables, sprouts, bitter gourd, cabbage and fruits like papaya should be consumed. Garlic has anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties which help in improved liver functioning and digestion. Buttermilk, cow’s or goat’s milk reduces the heat in the body. Aloe vera juice is also said to be beneficial for liver health. Plenty of water should be consumed to cleanse the liver.

• Getting adequate sleep and not staying up late is also recommended as it improves digestion process. Exercising also helps digestion and should be taken regularly.