The kidneys and the liver are two major organs in the human body. They are vital for survival, and one cannot live without them. Both these organs help the body eliminate the wastes and toxins produced inside the body.
However, they differ in several aspects, including location, appearance, size, and other functionalities. This article will make you understand the difference between the liver and the kidney. Apart from liver and kidney differences, it will also provide detailed information about the liver and kidneys.
Here are the key differences between the liver and the kidney:
Table of Contents
The kidneys and the liver are two major organs in the human body. They are vital for survival, and one cannot live without them. Both these organs help the body eliminate the wastes and toxins produced inside the body.
However, they differ in several aspects, including location, appearance, size, and other functionalities. This article will make you understand the difference between the liver and the kidney. Apart from liver and kidney differences, it will also provide detailed information about the liver and kidneys.
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The liver is the second largest organ found in the human body. It is reddish-brown and is present on the right side of the stomach, specifically in the abdominal area.
It helps to break down the fat into fatty acids, thereby helping the body in digestion. It also stores glycogen and other necessary vitamins and minerals. The stored glycogen provides energy to the body. As a result, the liver is also referred to as the body’s storehouse.
Two main cells are found in the liver, namely Hepatocytes and Kupffer. The former secretes bile juice, which helps the body break down all the fat into fatty acids. While the latter kills the bacteria.
The structural and functional unit of the liver is the hepatic lobules. There are precisely 10,000 hepatic lobules in a liver. The major parts of the liver comprise
The kidney is a fistful-sized organ involved in the excretion of unwanted products from the body. The kidneys appear reddish brown and are in a pair (two in number), each positioned underneath the rib cage on each side of the spine.
The smallest or structural unit of a kidney is called Nephron. The chief function of the kidney is to filter out waste and toxins from the body. It does so in the form of urine, which is called excretion.
Not only does the kidney remove the waste, but it also reabsorbs the vital vitamins, ions, and minerals from the filtered/ waste material.
The major part of the kidney includes
Parameters | Liver | Kidney |
Size |
7 to 10.5 cm (approx) |
4 to 5 cm (approx) |
Shape | Conical shaped | Bean shaped |
Weight |
Female: 603 to 1767 g Male: 968 to 1860 g |
Female: Right kidney, 38 to 174 g Left kidney, 35 to 192 g Male: Right kidney, 81 to 160 g Left kidney, 83 to 176 g |
Location | The right side of the abdomen | below the ribcage, each kidney on the two sides of the spine |
Function |
|
|
Structural and Functional Unit | Hepatic lobules are the structural and functional unit of the liver. | Nephrons are the Structural and Functional unit of the kidney. |
Peritoneum | The liver is hooked to the peritoneum. | The kidney is situated behind the peritoneum. |
Organ Count | The liver is only one in number. | The kidneys are two in number. |
Storage | The liver reserves fat, vitamins, and ions. | The kidneys do not store anything. |
Liver has some unknown amazing facts. Some of them are given below:
Kidney boasts interesting facts. A few of them are stated below:
The kidneys and the liver are two important organs of the human body. They differ in various aspects, including shape, size, location, and functions.
Present on the right side of the abdomen, the liver is conical-shaped. It mainly indulges in bile production, blood clotting, and protein production. Meanwhile, the kidneys are bean-shaped organs involved in osmoregulation and hormone production. However, the biggest difference between the liver and the kidney is that the liver performs digestive functions, whereas the kidney carries out excretory functions.
Most liver and kidney diseases are easily curable. However, there are many diseases which, if left untreated, may be life-threatening. That’s why one should not ignore any kind of symptoms and should immediately consult the respective doctor. So if you or your loved ones are going through kidney or liver-related issues, contact HexaHealth and seek expert advice from our team of experienced doctors, and that too free of cost. Visit our site HexaHealth for a FREE CONSULTATION CALL.
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The major difference between the liver and the kidney is that the kidney is mainly responsible for removing waste products from the body through urination. At the same time, the liver is responsible for breaking down fat into fatty acids. It also stores glycogen and provides the necessary energy to the body.
The liver helps break down the fat into fatty acids. Hence, it aids in digestion. Further, it is a storage house for glycogen. Thus, it gives the required energy to the body. On the other hand, the kidney filters out waste products from the body and helps to maintain a stable temperature through osmoregulation.
Both of them are important as they carry vital functions. While the liver helps in the digestion of food by breaking down fats into fatty acids, the kidney filters out the waste substances and helps the body get rid of them.
Yes, the liver and kidneys work together in many ways. For instance, they both function together to remove toxins and waste from the body.
No, one cannot live without a liver, which helps the body convert fat into fatty acids. Further, it secretes bile juice, which is an essential secretion in the process of digestion. That being said, you can not live without a liver. If in case, your liver gets damaged, you have to go through a liver transplant.
The four warning signs of a damaged liver include
Foods that can damage your liver are
A person with only one kidney can live a normal life. However, there might emerge a few issues later in life. Still, most are not life-threatening.
Major reasons for kidney damage involve
When your kidneys and liver fail, you might face high blood pressure, weight loss, bloody stools and vomit, abdominal pain, abdominal bleeding, swollen stomach, loss of appetite, itchy skin, indigestion, frequent urination or less urination than usual. If your kidney or liver fails, it might cause serious health issues and death.
Last Updated on: 28 September 2023
MBBS, MS General Surgery, Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery
14 Years Experience
Dr Hemant Kumar Khowal is a well-known General Surgeon and a proctologist. He has 14 years of experience in general surgery and worked as an expert general surgeon in different cities in India. He has worked in many reputed hospital...View More
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