The human liver can regenerate to its full original mass even after up to 70% of it has been surgically removed, with most regrowth within months and full recovery up to a year.
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What we found
Surgeons can remove up to 70% of your liver and it will fully regenerate within just 4 to 8 weeks — making it the only solid organ in the human body with this ability. The ancient Greek myth of Prometheus growing his liver back overnight is, remarkably, grounded in real biology. Follow for a new fact every day.
Transcript
Your liver can grow itself back — almost like something out of science fiction. Surgeons can remove up to 70% of a human liver in a single operation, and the remaining tissue will regenerate to its full original size. Not scar tissue — actual, functioning liver cells called hepatocytes divide rapidly to rebuild what was lost. Most of the regrowth happens within a few months, with full recovery taking up to a year. This is why living donors can give a large portion of their liver to a patient in need, and both people end up with a complete, working liver. No other solid organ in the human body does this. The ancient Greek myth of Prometheus — chained to a rock, his liver eaten by an eagle each day, only to regrow overnight — turns out to be surprisingly good biology. Follow for a fact every day.
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