In anatomy, a lobe is a clear anatomical division or extension 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.

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

References