Which 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 the largest gland in the human body.
According to anatomical data, it weighs approximately 1300–1600 grams (1.3–1.6 kg) in an average adult.
It is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm.
It's important to distinguish that while the skin is the body's largest organ overall, the question specifically asks for the largest internal organ.

Option A: The brain is a very large organ, weighing around 1.3 to 1.4 kg, but it is generally slightly smaller and lighter than the liver.
Option B: The heart is a muscular pump essential for circulation, but it is much smaller, weighing only about 250 to 350 grams.
Option C: The kidneys are vital for filtering waste from the blood, but they are significantly smaller, with each kidney weighing only about 130 to 160 grams.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Human Anatomy: Organ Size and Characteristics helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Knowledge of organ size and location is fundamental for nursing physical assessments. For example, a nurse palpates for an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) below the right costal margin, which is a key clinical finding.
Hepatomegaly can be a sign of various diseases, including heart failure, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Recognizing this requires an understanding of the liver's normal size and position.
What if? If the question had asked for the largest lymphoid organ, the correct answer would be the spleen, not the liver.

How to Approach the Question

First, carefully read the question and identify the key qualifying terms: 'largest' and 'internal organ'.
Recognize the distinction between the largest organ overall (skin) and the largest internal organ, which the question asks for.
Mentally review the options provided: Brain, Heart, Kidney, Liver.
Recall or estimate the relative sizes/weights of these organs. You know the heart and kidneys are much smaller than the brain and liver.
Compare the two largest options, the brain and the liver. Recall that the liver is the heaviest solid organ in the abdomen.
Conclude that the liver is the correct answer based on its superior weight and volume compared to the other internal organs.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QbM6E4tdeHHm8AjazK71Ck

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.