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 an interlobar duct and an 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
• the testicular lobules