Is the liver a gland and/or an organ?

A gland is an organ in the human or animal body that secretes particular chemical substances for use in the body or for discharge into the surroundings. Liver is considered a gland because it produces a natural substance needed to digest fats. This substance is also known as bile. Its salts break up fat into smaller pieces so they can be absorbed more easily in the small intestine.

However, liver is also an organ. Let's analyze the definition of the word "organ":

An organ is a part of an organism that is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function, such as the heart or liver in humans.

Note from anatomy: A human liver normally weighs 3.2 – 3.7 lbs. Liver is both the heaviest internal organ and the largest gland in the human body.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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125 Comments

William Laughlin

All glands are organs, but not all organs are glands, much the same way all Girl Scouts are girls, but not all girls are Girl Scouts.

filmnut

What is the problem. Does everyone throw both spelling and punctuation out the window when writing on the internet ?

goodolemom

my medical book call it an ORGAN.....

Kristi Stevens

A gland IS an organ... "A gland is an organ in the human or animal body that secretes particular chemical substances for use in the body or for discharge into the surroundings."

Georgia Kemp

Has A function. The liver performs over 500 functions.

Chandran David

I have answered to the question; not delved deep into a research !

Rafi Manory

Hard to understand how this question was accepted. Not much more to say.

Mark Gavin

"A gland is an organ", and "However, it is also an organ"! Make your blinking mind up!

Susan Czech

The liver is strictly an organ. It does NOT secrete bile. Bile is secreted by the GALL BLADDER which is a gland. Susan Czech RN, BSN - Cleveland, OH

Lourdes Ayala

I thought the gall bladder was the gland the liver is an organ!

John T. Kelley

The liver has a purification function to remove certain wastes from the blood stream. Most drug metabolites are removed from the body this way. Also dead cell fragments can be captured and eliminated by the liver.