Normal and pathological dimensions of the liver according to Kurlov

The liver is one of the vital organs of a person who performs many functions. The main function of the body is to protect against harmful foreign substances that enter the body, that is, the liver is the main barrier in which "unnecessary" agents are processed. In addition, the liver is the formation of blood proteins necessary for life. It also participates in the digestive process (production of bile, enzymes).

In many pathological conditions, the functions of the organ are affected, this can be identified by examination. Such conditions include pathologies of the hematopoietic system, some infectious diseases, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and others. There are many research methods, one of them - percussion, in which the size of the liver according to Kurlov, morbidity, shape is determined. Due to percussion, it is possible to detect an increase or decrease in the liver, which is a diagnostic sign of diseases.

Measurement technique

Dimensions of the liver according to Kurlov are measured by three lines: the mid-right, the middle and the 10 intercostal spaces to the left, starting from the left anterior axillary line. The tapping starts from the right side from the second intercostal space to the blunting of sound, at this point the upper border of the liver is marked, then mentally draw a straight horizontal line through the navel and begin percussing along the mid-incision line upward, while finding the lower border of the organ. The next line is median, percussion is from the navel up to the appearance of blunting. The last is the line drawn along 10 intercostal spaces to the upper border. Thus, the size of the liver is determined, the norm is 9, 8 and 7 cm (respectively, lines).

Changing the size of the liver in pathologies

If deviation from the normal size of the body begin to conduct further diagnosis. Dimensions of the liver (according to Kurlov it is not difficult to determine them) can vary both in the direction of increase, and vice versa. An increase - hepatomegaly - is observed in many diseases, among which the most dangerous are leukemia, chronic hepatitis, tumoral processes of internal organs. Reduction in size can be seen in the extreme stage of cirrhosis, which is an unfavorable prognostic sign.

Age features

In young children, the liver occupies significantly more space in the abdominal cavity than in the adult. This is due to the fact that during the period of intrauterine development, it performs a hematopoietic function in the fetus. Especially large sizes it reaches in newborns and children up to a year, then in relation to the abdominal cavity the size of the liver begins to gradually decrease. In the norm, usual for adults, it will be a few years later.

If you suspect a disease, you should immediately contact your doctor for a diagnosis. The specialist is obliged to conduct a full examination of the patient, including percussion. Dimensions of the liver according to Kurlov can be determined already in the early stages of the disease, but sometimes the study needs to be supplemented with laboratory and instrumental methods.