Lobe (anatomy) explained

In anatomy, a lobe is a clear anatomical division or extension^[1] of an organ (as seen for example in the brain, lung, liver, or kidney) that can be determined without the use of a microscope at the gross anatomy level. This is in contrast to the much smaller lobule, which is a clear division only visible under the microscope.^[2]

Interlobar ducts connect lobes and interlobular ducts connect lobules.

Examples of lobes

• The four main lobes of the brain
  • the frontal lobe
  • the parietal lobe
  • the occipital lobe
  • the temporal lobe
• The three lobes of the human cerebellum
  • the flocculonodular lobe
  • the anterior lobe
  • the posterior lobe
• The two lobes of the thymus
• The two and three lobes of the lungs
  • Left lung

superior and inferior

• • Right lung

superior, middle, and inferior

• The four lobes of the liver
  • Left lobe of liver
  • Right lobe of liver
  • Quadrate lobe of liver
  • Caudate lobe of liver
• The renal lobes of the kidney
• Earlobes

Examples of lobules

• the cortical lobules of the kidney
• the testicular lobules of the testis
• the lobules of the mammary gland
• the pulmonary lobules of the lung
• the lobules of the thymus

Notes and References

1. Web site: Types of lobes . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112541/http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/srchcont_dict.asp?src=lobe . 27 September 2017 . eMedicine Dictionary.
2. Web site: Histology of Glands . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220425052247/https://histology.siu.edu/intro/glands.htm#5 . 25 April 2022 . 25 April 2022 . Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale, Illinois.