The liver and the lungs are two vital organs in the human body, but their primary functions differ. These organs are located inside the torso region, specifically in the abdominal region and within the thoracic.
The liver is an organ responsible for filtering toxins from our blood, and we can breathe in oxygen and release carbon dioxide with our lungs. These two vital organs keep us alive and healthy and when they are functioning properly, the health complications are often server.
The liver and the lungs are internal organs in the human body, with the former being the largest. They are both involved in the purification process of our body, performing their different functions to keep us healthy.
If you intend to learn more about the difference between the liver vs the lungs, then you should read this guide to the end.
The Liver
The liver is an internal organ in all vertebrate animals. It’s the largest internal organ in the human body, a vital organ that performs various essential biological functions.
It’s a vital organ that performs essential functions such as detoxifying harmful substances, storing nutrients, producing bile and regulating blood sugar levels.
The liver in the human body is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm. The organ is mostly protected by the lower right rib cage.
The liver is also a digestive organ that aids in the breakdown of dietary fat. It produces bile, a fluid that contains cholesterol and bile acids which emulsifies the disintegration of dietary fat.
The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ located under the right lobe of the liver. It stores bile from the liver until the body needs it for the digestion and absorption of fats in the duodenum.
Also Read: Disorder vs Disease: Difference and Comparison
The Lungs
The lungs are the most vital organ of the respiratory system both in humans and animals belonging to different classes. The lung’s primary function in the respiratory system is to take in oxygen, then transfer it into the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide from the bloodstream into the atmosphere.
The lungs can be found near the backbone on either side of the heart in mammals and other vertebrates.
The two spongy air-filled organs are located in the chest region of the human body. They enable us to breathe, extracting oxygen from the air into our bloodstream and releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
Respiration in different species is enabled by different muscular systems. Aves, mammals, and reptiles use different muscles to breathe.
In humans, the muscle of respiration that supports and fosters breathing is the diaphragm, while in earlier tetrapods, oxygen was extracted from the air into the lungs by the pharyngeal muscles through buccal pumping.
Liver vs Lungs: Key Differences between the Liver and the Lungs
The liver and the lungs are essential organs in animals and in the human body. The liver, being the largest internal organ plays a vital role in metabolism, production of biochemical needed for digestion, and detoxification.
The lungs are also vital organs that are responsible for the extraction of oxygen into the bloodstream and releasing carbon dioxide from our bloodstream back into the atmosphere.
The primary functions of these internal organs differ. The liver’s functions include detoxifying harmful substances, storing nutrients, producing bile and regulating blood sugar levels.
Location Inside the Body
One major difference between the liver and the lungs is their location within the torso region. The lungs are two spongy air-filled organs located in the chest region of the human body.
In contrast, the liver, the largest internal organ sits below our diaphragm on the right side of the abdomen.
Also Read: Sign vs Symptom: Difference and Comparison
Structure
Another difference between the liver vs the lungs is their structure.
Naturally, the lungs consist of air sacs, alveoli, (a small air sac in the lungs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with our blood) and bronchioles, while liver cells function as hepatocytes organized into units called lobules.
Another major difference between these two internal organs is how they are likely to be affected by diseases.
Our lungs can be affected by a health condition such as asthma or by pneumonia. Hepatitis and cirrhosis are diseases that can affect the liver.
Also Read: Concentrate vs Isolate: Difference and Comparison
Liver vs Lungs: Function of the Liver and the Lungs
The liver and the lungs are internal vital organs that purify our system from toxins and extract carbon dioxide from the bloodstream into the atmosphere. Their function in the human body differ.
The liver is responsible for different metabolic processes such as detoxifying harmful substances, storing nutrients, producing bile and regulating blood sugar levels.
It produces bile, a fluid that contains cholesterol and bile acids which emulsifies the disintegration of dietary fat.
The lung’s primary function is to extract oxygen from the air into our bloodstream and release carbon dioxide from it back into the atmosphere.
Naturally, the lungs consist of air sacs, alveoli, (a small air sac in the lungs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with our blood) and bronchioles.
Additionally, the lungs also regulate blood pH levels- it does so by balancing oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations.
Liver vs Lungs: Liver Description
The liver is a wedged-shaped organ with a dark reddish-brown colour. It has two lobes that are non-symmetrical and unequal in size.
According to Wikipedia, the average human liver weighs about 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) and the width is about 15 cm (6 inches). However, there are variations in sizes between individuals, with the standard reference range for women being approximately 600 to 1,770 grams (1.32 to 3.9 pounds) and that of men being 970 to 1,860 grams (2.14 to 4.10 pounds).
Lungs
The two lungs in the human body are not of the same size. The right lung is bigger and heavier compared to the left lung within the thoracic cavity of the chest with the heart.
The human lungs weigh about 1.3 kilograms (2.9 pounds).
Also Read: Family Medicine vs Internal Medicine: Difference and Comparison
Liver vs Lungs: Comparison Chart
| Liver | Lungs | |
| Primary function | Detoxification, metabolism, and bile production | Gas exchange, removing carbon dioxide from the bloodstream, and oxygenating blood |
| Location inside the body | Upper right abdomen | A large, glandular organ |
| Diseases | Hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer | Pneumonia, asthma, lung cancer |
| Role in homeostasis | Metabolic balance, blood detoxification | Respiratory balance, oxygen and carbon dioxide regulation |
| Physical structure | Large, glandular organ | Two spongy organs |
Liver vs Lungs: The connection between Liver and Lungs
The liver and the lungs are two vital organs that have a unique connection in our body because these two internal organs are involved in maintaining haemostasis.
The liver detoxifies harmful substances in our body. It filters blood from the digestive tract and the lungs oxygenate the blood.
One major connection between these internal organs is through circulation. Inside our body, blood flows through the liver and the lungs.
Deoxygenated blood flows from the body to the lungs for oxygenation, before it flows back to the heart and then released out again through the body.
During this circulation, the liver metabolizes toxins that would be harmful to other organs in our body. The liver purifies the blood from toxins that will affect other parts of the body.
Conclusion
The lungs and the liver are internal organs that detoxify and extract carbon dioxide from the bloodstream back into the atmosphere. These organs are located in different spaces within the torso and they also have a unique connection in our body as these two internal organs are involved in maintaining haemostasis.
