Question

Which of the following is the largest gland in an adult man?
A) Thymus
B) Liver
C) Thyroid
D) Pancreas

Answer 1

Hint: This gland weighs about 1.5 kg (around 3.3 lb) and produces bile. And present just above the abdomen cavity.

Complete Answer:
- Liver is the largest gland in an adult man weighing around 1.5 kg (i.e. 3.3 lb.) and holds upto 2% of the total body weight approximately.
- A rough triangular shaped structure is present below the rib cage and above the abdomen cavity on the right side and on the top of the right kidney. Reddish brown coloured organ consists of two lobes.
- The larger right lobe and smaller left lobe, in between there is another small organ called gallbladder.

Therefore the correct answer is option B, i.e. liver.

Additional information –
- Liver produces bile juice, which gets stored in the gallbladder. The building blocks of liver are hepatic lobules. The right and left lobes have branched supplies of veins, ducts, and arteries. The middle hepatic vein and imaginary Cantlie’s line separates the liver in 2 lobes. Right and left hepatic vein demarcate the right and left lobes into anterior -posterior and medial-lateral segments respectively.
- Its main functions are blood supply, biliary flow, and play a major role in metabolism of the carb, protein and amino acids. Breakdown of the insulin like hormone is another major function. Act as blood reservoir and lymph production is also facilitated by the liver.

Note: Thymus is a small endocrine gland present in the thoracic cavity inside the rib cage.
- Thyroid is also another small endocrine gland present alongside the esophagus and trachea near Adam’s apple in the neck.
- Pancreas is the digestive gland like liver but secretes pancreatic juices and is located behind the stomach in the abdomen cavity.