Lobe (anatomy)

In anatomy, a lobe is a clear anatomical division or extension of an organ (such as the brain, the breast or the kidney) that can be determined without the use of a microscope at the gross anatomy level. This is in contrast to a lobule, which is a clear division only visible histologically.

In practice, this division can be somewhat subjective. For example, it can be difficult to precisely distinguish between a interlobar duct and a interlobular duct. Furthermore, the distinction is not universally accepted and some sources simply consider a lobule to be a small lobe.

Examples of lobes/lobules

• The four lobes of the human cerebral cortex
  • 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 earlobe
• lobes of the lung
  • Right lung: superior, middle, inferior
  • Left lung: superior and inferior
• the liver
  • Left lobe of liver
  • Right lobe of liver
  • Quadrate lobe of liver
  • Caudate lobe of liver
  • Hepatic lobule
• the kidney
  • Renal lobe and cortical lobule