What is the largest internal organ in the human body?

Appeared in: MP CHO -2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The liver is the largest internal organ and also the largest gland in the human body.
In adults, it weighs between 1300 to 1600 grams (1.3 to 1.6 kg), making it heavier than the other organs listed.
It performs over 500 vital functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion.
It is important to distinguish that while the skin is the body's largest organ overall, the liver is the largest internal organ.

Option A: The brain is a large and complex organ, but it typically weighs slightly less than the liver, with an average weight of 1300 to 1400 grams.
Option B: The heart is a vital muscular organ but is significantly smaller and lighter than the liver, weighing only about 250 to 350 grams in an adult.
Option C: A single kidney is much smaller than the liver, weighing approximately 120 to 170 grams. Even both kidneys together do not match the weight of the liver.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Anatomy: Major Organs of the Human Body helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Assessing liver size through palpation is a fundamental part of an abdominal examination. An enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) can be a key sign of serious underlying conditions like hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, or heart failure, prompting further investigation.
What if? If the question had asked for the largest lymphoid organ, the correct answer would be the Spleen. If it asked for the largest organ overall, the answer would be the Skin.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keywords in the question: 'largest' and 'internal organ'. This specifies the need to compare the size of organs located inside the body.
This is a factual recall question based on fundamental knowledge of human anatomy.
Consider the options provided: Brain, Heart, Kidney, and Liver.
Mentally compare the relative sizes or weights of these major organs.
Recall that the liver, located in the upper right abdomen, is the most massive of these.
Crucially, differentiate between the largest organ overall (skin) and the largest internal organ (liver) to avoid a common misconception.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q03pKgWHXMbrNXavrwFFKe

E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 497-499

E6 Anatomy BDChaurasia V2 10e Part 2 p. 83-85

E6 Anatomy MindMaps BDChaurasia V2 10e p. 10-12

Practise the full MP CHO -2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.