Liver anatomy and its Function

 

Liver Anatomy


The liver is situated in the abdominal cavity in the upper right-hand portion, beneath the diaphragm and on top of the stomach, right kidney, and intestines. Shaped like a cone, the liver is a dark reddish-brown organ that weighs about three pounds.


Functions of the liver

The liver regulates most chemical levels in the blood and excretes a product called "bile", which helps carry away waste products from the liver. All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver. The liver processes this blood and breaks down the nutrients and drugs into easier forms for the rest of the body. More than 500 vital functions have been identified with the liver. Some of the more well-known functions include:


  • Bile production helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion.
  • Production of specific proteins for blood plasma.
  • Production of cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through the body.
  • Convert excess glucose into glycogen for storage. (This glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for energy.)
  • The regulation of blood levels of amino acids forms the building blocks of proteins.
  • Processing of hemoglobin for the use of its iron content. (The liver stores iron.)
  • Conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea. (Urea is one of the end products of protein metabolism, excreted in the urine.)
  • Clearing the blood of drugs and other toxic substances.
  • Regulating blood clotting
  • Resisting infections by producing immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream.


When the liver has broken down harmful substances, its by-products are excreted into the bile or blood. Bile by-products enter the intestine and ultimately leave the body in the feces. The kidneys filter Blood by-products and leave the body as urine.

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