Lobes of the liver

The liver is classically divided into four lobes:

• a smaller left lobe 

• a larger right lobe separated along the attachment of the falciform ligament, that (varying from authors) contains:

  • the caudate lobe

  • the quadrate lobe

However, the classification of the liver into four lobes is superseded by the segmental anatomy of the liver based on the distribution of the portal blood supply and biliary drainage of the liver. This classification allows the organ to be functionally divided into four sectors, which are subsequently divided to give a total of eight hepatic segments.