Question:

Which is the largest gland in human body?

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It weighs around 1.5 kg, sits under the diaphragm on the right, and secretes bile.
Updated On: Jul 17, 2026
  • Pancreas
  • Liver
  • Thyroid
  • Pituitary
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question.
The question asks for the largest gland in the human body. A gland is an organ that makes and releases a substance, so we compare the sizes of the glands listed.

Step 2: Key Idea or Approach.
The liver is the largest gland in the human body. In an adult it weighs roughly 1.4 to 1.5 kilograms and sits in the upper right part of the abdomen just under the diaphragm. It counts as a gland because it secretes bile.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation.
The liver is a mixed gland. Its exocrine role is to make bile, which travels through ducts to the gall bladder and then to the small intestine, where it breaks fat into small droplets so that enzymes can act on it. The liver also stores glycogen, breaks down old red blood cells, makes plasma proteins and turns ammonia into urea.
Now compare the other glands by size.
The pancreas is also a mixed gland and does secrete both digestive juice and hormones such as insulin, but it weighs only about 70 to 100 grams, far less than the liver. It is often called the second largest gland, which makes it the main distractor.
The thyroid, in the neck, weighs about 25 grams and makes thyroxine, which controls the rate of metabolism. It is the largest purely endocrine gland but is nowhere near the liver in size.
The pituitary sits at the base of the brain and weighs only about half a gram. It is called the master gland because it controls other endocrine glands, but master does not mean largest.

Step 4: Final Answer.
The largest gland in the human body is the liver, which is option (B).
\[ \boxed{\text{Liver}} \]
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