Liver vs pancreas: how they differ, in 3D
The liver is the largest internal organ, in the upper right of the abdomen just below the diaphragm and covered by the ribs, while the pancreas is a long, slender organ lying crosswise deep in the abdomen behind the stomach. The liver processes and stores nutrients and makes bile; the pancreas makes pancreatic juice full of digestive enzymes, and hormones such as insulin and glucagon. Both bile and pancreatic juice drain into the duodenum.
Frequently asked questions
Which side are the liver and the pancreas on?
The liver lies in the upper right of the abdomen and reaches across to the left in front of the stomach. The pancreas lies across the middle of the abdomen: its head sits in the curve of the duodenum on the right, and its tail reaches towards the spleen on the left.
Do the liver and the pancreas both make digestive juices?
Yes. The liver makes bile, which helps digest fat and is stored in the gallbladder until it is needed. The pancreas makes pancreatic juice, with enzymes that break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Where do bile and pancreatic juice meet?
The common bile duct from the liver and the main pancreatic duct usually join in the wall of the duodenum and open into it together at the major duodenal papilla.
The organs compared
Parts to look at
Other organ comparisons
- Small intestine vs large intestine
- Liver vs spleen
- Stomach vs pancreas
- Heart vs lungs
- Stomach vs small intestine
More comparisons
Read more
- The human skeleton in 3D
- BAHI BODY 3D human body
- Chronic Disease Is Systemic Breakdown: chapter summaries
- Blog
Related reading
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- Microplastics in the body: where they’ve been found, and what we still don’t know
Once the 3D model loads you can turn it and select each part.