The liver regulates most chemical levels in the blood and excretes a product called bile. This 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, balances, and creates the nutrients and also metabolizes drugs into forms that are easier to use for the rest of the body or that are nontoxic. More than vital functions have been identified with the liver.
Some of the more well-known functions include the following:. Production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion.
Conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for energy and to balance and make glucose as needed.
Hepatocytes have a unique capacity to reproduce in response to liver injury. Liver regeneration can occur after surgical removal of a portion of the liver or after injuries that destroy parts of the liver. Although the liver's ability to react to damage and repair itself is remarkable, repetitive insults can produce liver failure and death. The liver is a metabolically active organ responsible for many vital life functions.
The primary functions of the liver are:. Due to these important activities, the liver is exposed to a number of insults and is one of the body's organs most subject to injury. The biliary system consists of the gallbladder, and the hepatic, cystic, and common bile ducts. The gallbladder is located beneath the right lobe of the liver. It changes these into forms that are easier for the rest of your body to use, and also regulates the levels of most chemical in your blood.
The inspection part comes in handy because helpful nutrients are not the only things your blood carries. There are also some waste products, which your liver filters out. If you've ever seen the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, think of the scale for those golden eggs.
Thanks to the "Egg-dicator", the good eggs could be separated from the bad ones. This is similar to the way your liver works.
It can tell the difference between nutrients and wastes. Nutrients go back into your bloodstream, and wastes are excreted as a product called bile. Even though bile is made out of waste products, it certainly doesn't go to waste. Bile is very useful in helping to break down fats and preparing them for further digestion and absorption. Once bile is released into your small intestine, it works its magic on the food you've eaten.
Bile by-products ultimately leave your body in your feces. Blood by-products are filtered out by the kidneys and leave your body in the form of urine.
In fact, there is an entire system in your body of which your liver is a part that is responsible for creating, transporting, storing, and releasing bile. This is called the biliary system. The biliary system is made up of the ducts arising in the liver, the gallbladder and its duct, and the common bile duct.
All of this, however, is only the basic version of your liver's job description. Remember, your liver actually performs more than separate functions — and perhaps even more that scientists don't yet fully understand. Some of its other well-known liver functions include:.
Learn more about Tests for Liver Transplant. Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:. Pittsburgh, PA In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
For general information and inquiries , please call To make an appointment , please call from 7 a. Monday through Friday. Share a comment, compliment or concern.
Tell us what you think about our website - send an email to feedback chp.
0コメント