Biological basis of child health 9: development of the liver and clinical features of childhood liver disease

This article follows on from the previous article which focused on the gastrointestinal system. The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, and sits under the ribs on the right side of the body, and has over 500 functions, including playing a role in digestion, combating infections, breaking down food and turning it into energy, and neutralising and destroying drugs and toxins. This article will enable the reader to have a richer understanding of the development and anatomy and physiology of the liver, and relate it to childhood liver disease.