Is your liver below your belly button? Debunking liver location myths

September 29, 2025 •

3 min read

An estimated 30 million Americans suffer from some form of liver disease, so understanding its location is crucial for your health. A common anatomical misconception is, is your liver below your belly button? This article will clarify the liver's actual position and function, shedding light on this vital organ.

Quick Summary

The liver is not located below the belly button; it resides in the upper right-hand portion of the abdomen, tucked beneath the diaphragm and protected by the lower rib cage.

Key Points

Upper Right Abdomen: The liver is located in the upper right-hand side of the abdominal cavity, directly beneath the diaphragm, and behind the lower ribs.
Protected by Rib Cage: The liver is positioned in such a way that the rib cage offers it a significant amount of protection from external impact.
Not Below Belly Button: A healthy, properly functioning liver does not extend into the lower abdomen below the navel.
Vital Functions: The liver performs hundreds of essential tasks, including filtering blood, processing nutrients, and producing bile.
Multiple Blood Sources: It receives blood from two sources: the oxygenated hepatic artery and the nutrient-rich hepatic portal vein.
Misconception is Common: The belief that the liver is located in the lower abdominal area is a common misconception that this article aims to clarify with accurate anatomical information.
Abdominal Pain Location: Pain below the belly button is more likely related to organs such as the intestines, bladder, or appendix, rather than the liver.

Where is the liver really located?

While many people might incorrectly guess its position, the liver is situated in the upper right quadrant of the abdominal cavity. This vital, cone-shaped organ is carefully positioned beneath the diaphragm, which separates it from the chest cavity. Specifically, it sits on top of the stomach, right kidney, and intestines. This placement means the majority of the liver is protected by the lower rib cage. The liver does not extend down to the area below the belly button in a healthy adult. Any noticeable mass or tenderness in that lower region would be an indication of an entirely different issue, not the normal placement of the liver.

The anatomy of the liver explained

The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, weighing approximately 3 pounds in an average adult. It is a reddish-brown color due to the extensive blood supply that constantly flows through it. The liver is divided into two main sections, or lobes: the larger right lobe and the smaller left lobe. The lobes are further divided into thousands of smaller units called lobules, each performing the same core functions.

Blood supply to the liver

The liver receives blood from two distinct sources, highlighting its central role in both digestion and general metabolism:

The hepatic artery: Delivers oxygen-rich blood from the aorta, ensuring the liver's cells remain healthy and functional.
The hepatic portal vein: Brings nutrient-rich blood to the liver directly from the digestive tract, allowing the liver to process and filter nutrients and toxins before they enter the general bloodstream.

Supporting ligaments

The liver is held in place by several ligaments that anchor it to the abdominal wall and diaphragm. These include the falciform ligament, which separates the right and left lobes, and the coronary ligament. These structures ensure the liver remains in its correct anatomical position, reinforcing the fact that it is not a free-floating organ that would shift far below the ribs.

Vital functions of the liver

Far from just a filter, the liver performs hundreds of essential functions that are critical for maintaining overall health. Some of its most important roles include:

Metabolism: Processing carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from the diet.
Detoxification: Filtering toxins from the blood, including drugs, alcohol, and harmful waste products.
Bile production: Creating and secreting bile, a fluid essential for digesting fats.
Vitamin storage: Storing important vitamins and minerals, such as iron, copper, and vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12.
Protein synthesis: Producing vital proteins, including clotting factors and albumin, that are necessary for blood health.

Understanding different abdominal pains

Misattributing pain can be dangerous. While liver-related pain is typically felt in the upper right abdomen, pain below the belly button is far more likely to be caused by other organs. Below is a comparison to help differentiate potential causes of abdominal pain.


Location of Pain	Possible Cause	Related Organs	Potential Symptoms
Upper Right Abdomen	Liver problems (enlargement, inflammation), gallstones	Liver, Gallbladder	Pain under ribs, jaundice, fatigue
Lower Abdomen (near belly button)	Appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, urinary tract infection	Appendix, Intestines, Bladder	Cramping, bloating, changes in bowel habits, fever
Upper Left Abdomen	Stomach issues, spleen enlargement	Stomach, Spleen, Pancreas	Indigestion, pain after eating
Overall Abdomen	Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), food poisoning	Entire Intestinal Tract	Widespread cramping, diarrhea, nausea

When to seek medical attention

Although it's reassuring to know your liver isn't in the lower abdomen, persistent abdominal pain in any location should not be ignored. Symptoms related to liver disease often don't appear until the condition is advanced, so understanding the warning signs is vital. Symptoms to watch for include persistent fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), abdominal swelling, and easy bruising. For anyone concerned about their liver health, or experiencing symptoms, seeking advice from a medical professional is the most prudent step.

Conclusion

In summary, the question, is your liver below your belly button, is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of human anatomy. The liver is securely positioned in the upper right abdomen, protected by the rib cage, and performs countless essential tasks. By understanding its correct placement and the signs of potential issues, you can take a more informed and proactive approach to your health. Educating yourself on basic anatomy can help distinguish between common pains and those that require a doctor's attention. For more detailed information on liver health, you can visit authoritative sources like the American Liver Foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The liver is located in the upper right portion of the abdomen, underneath the diaphragm and behind the lower ribs. It rests on top of the stomach and intestines.

No, you should not be able to feel your liver below your belly button. A healthy liver is typically protected by the rib cage and is not low enough to be felt in the lower abdominal region. Feeling an organ in that area would be cause for concern.

The liver performs many critical functions, including filtering toxins from the blood, producing bile for digestion, metabolizing fats and carbohydrates, and storing essential vitamins and minerals.

Liver pain is often a dull ache in the upper right abdomen, just below the ribs. It can also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as fatigue, jaundice, and abdominal swelling.

Pain below the belly button can be caused by a variety of issues unrelated to the liver, including appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, bladder infections, or problems with the reproductive organs.

The liver is held in a relatively fixed position by ligaments and its placement within the abdominal cavity. While it can move slightly with breathing, it does not shift far enough to be located below the belly button.

Yes, a portion of the liver, specifically the smaller left lobe, extends slightly across the midline into the upper left abdomen, but the bulk of the organ remains on the right.