The largest internal organ in the human body is the liver. It typically weighs about 3 to 3.5 pounds (1.36 to 1.59 kilograms) and is roughly the size of a football. The liver is located beneath the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm
. The liver performs over 100 vital functions, including filtering toxins from the blood, producing bile for digestion, storing glycogen, and synthesizing proteins for blood plasma. It is also the heaviest internal organ and the largest gland in the body
. While the skin is the largest organ overall, the liver holds the distinction of being the largest internal organ by weight and size
. Some recent research suggests the interstitium-a network of fluid-filled spaces-might be considered an organ and potentially the largest, but this is not yet widely accepted
. In summary:
- Largest internal organ: Liver
- Weight: ~1.36–1.59 kg (3–3.5 lbs)
- Location: Upper right abdomen, beneath ribs and diaphragm
- Functions: Detoxification, bile production, glycogen storage, protein synthesis
This makes the liver the largest and one of the most important internal organs in the human body
