Liver: Anatomy and Functions

Anatomy of the liver

Anatomy of the liver and biliary system with blood vessels

The liver is located in the upper right-hand portion of the intestinal cavity, beneath the diaphragm, and on height of the tummy, right kidney, and intestines.

Shaped like a cone, the liver is a nighttime ruby-brown organ that weighs well-nigh 3 pounds.

There are ii distinct sources that supply claret to the liver, including the following:

  • Oxygenated claret flows in from the hepatic artery

  • Nutrient-rich blood flows in from the hepatic portal vein

The liver holds about one pint (13%) of the body's blood supply at whatever given moment. The liver consists of 2 chief lobes. Both are made up of 8 segments that consist of ane,000 lobules (small lobes). These lobules are connected to small ducts (tubes) that connect with larger ducts to form the common hepatic duct. The common hepatic duct transports the bile made by the liver cells to the gallbladder and duodenum (the offset part of the small intestine) via the mutual bile duct.

Functions of the liver

The liver regulates nigh chemical levels in the blood and excretes a product called bile. This helps comport away waste products from the liver. All the blood leaving the breadbasket and intestines passes through the liver. The liver processes this claret and breaks down, balances, and creates the nutrients and also metabolizes drugs into forms that are easier to employ for the remainder of the body or that are nontoxic. More than 500 vital functions accept been identified with the liver. Some of the more well-known functions include the following:

  • Product of bile, which helps conduct away waste product and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion

  • Product of certain proteins for blood plasma

  • Production of cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through the body

  • Conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage (glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for free energy) and to residual and make glucose as needed

  • Regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which class the edifice blocks of proteins

  • Processing of hemoglobin for utilize of its atomic number 26 content (the liver stores iron)

  • Conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea (urea is an end production of protein metabolism and is excreted in the urine)

  • Clearing the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances

  • Regulating claret clotting

  • Resisting infections by making immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream

  • Clearance of bilirubin, also from reddish blood cells. If at that place is an accumulation of bilirubin, the peel and eyes plough yellowish.

When the liver has broken downwards harmful substances, its by-products are excreted into the bile or blood. Bile by-products enter the intestine and leave the body in the class of feces. Blood past-products are filtered out by the kidneys, and leave the body in the course of urine.