What is the purpose of functional division of the liver?

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Functional division of the liver maps the organ into segments that share a common blood inflow and bile drainage. Each segment has its own branch of the portal vein and hepatic artery, its own bile duct, and its own hepatic venous drainage, so tissue can be removed or preserved with minimal impact on the rest. This segmentation is essential for surgical planning, allowing precise segmental resections and safer transplant decisions. It is not based on color, metabolic rate, or cosmetic labeling.