Liver span

Liver span is a term used in medicine to describe the physical measurement of the liver's size. This measurement is typically taken during a physical examination, and can provide important information about a patient's health.

Measurement

The liver span is measured in centimeters and is typically determined by percussion, a method in which the doctor taps on the patient's abdomen to feel for the liver's edge. The normal liver span is 6 to 12 centimeters in children and 10 to 15 centimeters in adults.

Significance

An increased liver span can be a sign of hepatomegaly, or an enlarged liver. This can be caused by a number of conditions, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. A decreased liver span can be a sign of atrophy, or shrinkage of the liver. This can occur in severe liver disease or after surgical removal of part of the liver.

Related Terms

• Hepatomegaly: An enlargement of the liver beyond its normal size.
• Cirrhosis: A late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism.
• Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver, commonly caused by a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis.
• Liver cancer: A type of cancer that starts in the liver.
• Atrophy: The partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body.

See Also

• Physical examination
• Abdominal examination
• Liver disease

Liver span Resources
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