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The fetal liver is the largest organ of the abdomen. It is responsible for glycogen storage – essential for continued fetal growth. If the nutrition of the fetus is diminished, most of the available nutrition for growth is diverted to protect the development of the brain.

If there is inadequate nutrition, then storage within the liver diminishes and growth of liver and therefore of the abdomen slows or, in severe growth retardation, stops. This is the 'head sparing' effect. It means that to detect a poorly growing fetus, measurement of the abdomen is essential.

Storage of fat does not occur to a significant extent until later in pregnancy.

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