The smaller lobe of the liver, spleen, pancreas, stomach, left adrenal gland, left kidney, left ureter, left Fallopian tube (female), left ovary (female), left testis (male), the descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectosigmoid colon, and the rectum are all on the left side of the body underneath the rib cage.
Organ means a group of tissues in a living organism that have been adapted to perform a specific function. In higher animals, organs are grouped into organ systems; for example, the esophagus, stomach, and liver are organs of the digestive system. Do you think you know your body well? If yes, you need to think twice. Our body is always with us, but we can’t say that we know everything about it.
What Organs Are on the Left Side?
Major Organs
The exact position of the heart is marginally toward the breastbone of the left side. Both sides of the heart are separated by a solid wall known as the septal wall. Each side contains two chambers from which the upper ones are called atria, and the lower ones are ventricles. The atria are smaller than the ventricles and are used to hold the blood before transferring to the ventricles. The atrium and ventricle of the left side are thicker than the right side.
The stomach is the area that loads up the food we eat in the digestive system. The stomach is responsible for the digestion of food and secreting enzymes that aid in the assimilation and absorption of digested food. The stomach is located on the upper side of the abdomen. The upper end of the stomach is guarded by a pyloric sphincter that aids in the passage of food towards the small intestines.
The spleen is positioned on the left upper side of the abdomen. It is an organ 4 inches long, responsible for producing new blood cells and removing useless cells. The spleen is also responsible for blood filtration and fighting bacteria, which can cause diseases like meningitis and pneumonia. It also controls and assists water distribution throughout the body. A weak spleen can cause water retention in certain body areas and a weak immune system.
The pancreas is a vital digestive gland at the back of the stomach. The gland has both endocrine and exocrine components, up to 6 inches long. The head of the pancreas is located along the right side of the abdomen. The tail of the pancreas is a narrow end that is extended towards the left area of the body. It is responsible for absorbing and processing vital nutrients including carbs, proteins and fats, and also releases digestive enzymes in the duodenum.
Large intestines are present under the abdomen cavity and are joined by the rear end of small intestines. There is a list of organs in large intestines, including the colon, rectum, and cecum. The cecum starts from the right lower side. It first rises and crosses and then slides down into the colon parts before entering the right lower part of the rectum.
They are responsible for getting water from food elements that are taken in by the human body and storage of feces before these are excreted from the body.
Paired Organs
Since you have already had some knowledge about what organs are on the left side of the body, especially some major organs, you may want to know more about the paired organs in our body as they are equally crucial for the function of our activities.
Lungs are responsible for respiration accomplished by inhalation of oxygen and exhalation of carbon dioxide. Both lungs are on either side of the thorax and appear like a sponge. There exists a trachea that passes the air towards the lungs through bronchi–the tube like structures that resemble the branches. The size of the left lung is smaller and narrower than the right one because the heart needs to be accommodated, which is somewhat on the left side of the body.
It is located on the anterior chest wall. Female breasts are way more developed than men’s due to the need to provide infants with nutrition during nursing. The breast’s growth depends on the body’s estrogen and progesterone secretion. The appearance of breasts can vary during pregnancy like the size increases to produce milk under the influence of Prolactin hormone. In most cases, the right and left breasts aren’t similar for unknown reasons. Very few females have symmetrical breasts.
Kidneys are responsible for urea, toxins, minerals, salts, and waste product filtration from the blood. The left kidney is positioned slightly higher than the right one because the right kidney is pressed downwards by the liver. The size of the left kidney is almost the size of a fist.
At the top of the kidney sit the adrenal or suprarenal glands. The adrenal glands of the left and right sides differ in size and shape. They are responsible for the management of hormone production.
The ureter works like a pathway for urine when it travels from the kidney to the bladder. In case of ureter malfunction, the kidneys risk getting infected. The sinus of kidneys constricts to form the ureters, but if we look at the anatomy, the right and left ureters are slightly different.
Reproductive Organs
Now you know what organs are on the left side of your body for all humans, but there are some differences in this part because no normal person will have the three following organs simultaneously.
Left Fallopian Tube
Two fallopian tubes are placed separately on each side of the uterus, which then extend towards the ovaries, present on the opposite side of the uterus. These structures are only present in females and are responsible for capturing the egg released from the ovaries. The fallopian tubes are also bound to maintain the health of the egg as it waits there for fertilization to occur.
Left Ovary
The sex hormones of female such as estrogen and progesterone, are secreted by the almond shaped organs called ovaries. The production of eggs also depends on the proper functioning of ovaries. Turns are taken by the ovaries of both sides every month for egg release. They are also responsible for secreting inhibin, which produces follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
Left Testis
Testis is only present in men. The testis is protected by scrotum, which looks like a sac located between the anus and penis. The testis contains Leydig and Sertoli cells that are responsible for hormone production. In some men, the position of the left testis is a bit higher than the right one, and the left one is smaller in dimensions because of too many veins running above it.