The liver can be viewed from two different perspectives - anatomical and functional.

Anatomically, the liver is divided into four lobes based on its visual appearance.
Functionally, it has two lobes based on the distribution of portal and hepatic veins.

Functionally, the liver can be further divided into four smaller parts called sectors. Each sector is usually subdivided into even smaller pieces known as segments.

Anatomical lobes

The liver can be subdivided into smaller parts called lobes. Based on the visual appearance, the liver has the following four anatomical lobes:

Right lobe - the largest of all; anteriorly, it is separated from the left lobe by the falciform ligament, while posteriorly by two fissures - fissure for the ligamentum venosum and fissure for the ligamentum teres hepatis (round ligament);
Left lobe - smaller, narrower and thinner than the right one; it is located on the left side of the falciform ligament; the most narrow part or the apex of the left lobe extends into the left upper quadrant;
Quadrate lobe - a small lobe that is found on the visceral surface of the liver; posteriorly, it is bordered by the porta hepatis; on its right side is the gallbladder fossa, while the fissure for the round ligament forms the left borderline, and finally, a short fragment of the inferior border of the liver forms the anterior and inferior borderline of the quadrate lobe;
Caudate lobe - a small lobe that can also be seen on the visceral surface of the liver; it is bounded by the porta hepatis inferiorly and anteriorly, while the fossa for the inferior vena cava is on its right side, and the fissure for the ligamentum venosum is on the left; superior to this lobe is the diaphragmatic surface of the liver.

The porta hepatis separates the quadrate lobe from the caudate lobe. The quadrate lobe lies anterior to the porta hepatis, while the caudate lobe is posterior.

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Organization of liver