The Liver & Its Functions
This article will describe the liver, its importance to our bodies, and it will also describe the functions of the liver, and how it works.
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The Human Liver--What Is It?
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The liver is the largest solid organ in the human body. It is also the largest gland in the body. It is considered a gland because it secretes a substance called bile. Without this very important organ we can only survive one or two days. If the liver fails, then the body fails too. However, it is possible to survive with only 75 percent of the liver functioning. This is because it can create new liver tissue from the healthy liver cells. The liver is a vital part of the human body and does many things to help the body run smoothly.
The Liver's Size and Location
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The liver weighs about three and a half pounds. It measures about eight inches horizontally, six and a half inches vertically, and four and a half inches thick. It is located just below the diaphragm, mostly under the ribs, on the right side of the abdominal cavity. It is an irregularly shaped dome-like structure, reddish brown in color.
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Functions of the Liver--It Is a Producer
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1. Produces proteins that help maintain the volume of blood and aids with blood clotting.
2. Produces cholesterol. In fact, it produces about 80 percent of the cholesterol in our bodies .
3. Forms and secretes bile to aid in the intestinal absorption of fats and the fat soluble vitamins A,D,E, and K.
4. Eliminates the potentially harmful biochemical products produced by the body like bilirubin produced from the breakdown of old red blood cells, or ammonia produced from the breakdown of proteins.
5. Produces immunity helpers and removes bacteria from the bloodstream to fight infection.
Functions of the Liver--It Processes
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1. Processes and stores fats and fatty acids.
2. Processes and stores carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are a source of the sugar, or glucose, in blood that red blood cells and the brain use.
Functions of the LIver--It Filters and Eliminates
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1. Filters harmful substances from the blood like alcohol or drugs. However, if alcohol is taken over long periods of time it alters the metabolism of the liver causing detrimental effects.
2. Detoxifies harmful substances by metabolizing or secreting them.
3. Eliminates by metabolizing or secreting potentially harmful biochemical products like bilirubin, produced from the breakdown of old red blood cells, or ammonia, produced from the breakdown of proteins.
Functions of the Liver--It Stores
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Stores vitamins, sugar and iron to help give the body energy.
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