Liver Facts for Kids

A Picture of the Human Liver
  • Organ Name: Liver
  • Organ Location: Upper right abdomen
  • Organ System: Digestive System
  • Organ Purpose: Up to 500 bodily functions
  • Organ Weight (Adult): Between 3 to 3.5 pounds
  • Organ Weight (Birth): About 4 ounces

18 Liver Facts for Kids

  1. The liver is a vital organ that has a wedge-like shape.
  2. The liver is part of the human digestive system.
  3. The liver is found in the upper right abdomen of the human body.
  4. There are up to 500 functions that the liver is believed to be responsible for in the human body.
  5. The liver works with the kidneys to filter out toxins and waste from the blood.
  6. The liver creates bile that helps break down fats in the digestive system.
  7. The liver stores important vitamins and minerals that the human body needs to function properly.
  8. The average weight of an adult male’s liver is 3.9 pounds.
  9. The average weight of an adult female’s liver is 2.8 pounds.
  10. The average blood volume in the liver is about 10% of the total volume of blood in the entire body.
  11. The human liver can regenerate itself. If you lost 75% of your liver the remaining 25% would be able to regenerate itself in 15 days or less.
  12. Viruses such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C can cause liver disease.
  13. Drinking too much alcohol and recreational drugs can cause live disease, like cirrhosis and fatty liver disease.
  14. Some liver diseases are inherited, like hemochromatosis and Wilson disease.
  15. A liver transplant is the process of taking part of a healthy liver and placing it into someone with a liver disease.
  16. A liver transplant is only attempted on people who have acute liver failure or an end-stage liver disease.
  17. The first liver transplant was attempt by American physician Thomas Starzl in 1963. Unfortunately, the patient died during the surgery due to uncontrollable bleeding.
  18. In 1967, Thomas Starzl successfully transplanted a liver into a 19-month-old girl who survived for a year.

Additional Resources About the Human Liver

  • How the Liver Works – Learn how the liver works and what it does in the human body on the Stanford Children’s Health website.
  • Anatomy and Functions of the Liver – Find out the different functions of the liver and its anatomy on the Johns Hopkins website.
  • Liver Diseases – Discover the diseases and disorders that affect the liver on the MedlinePlus website.
  • Liver – Britannica – Find more liver facts and information on the Britannica website.