Liver

The liver is a large organ that forms part of the internal anatomy of humans and other vertebrate animals. It is situated in the upper part of the abdomen, typically on the right side, beneath the diaphragm. The liver is one of the largest internal organs in the body.

The liver has many functions. These include processing digested food, producing proteins that circulate in the blood, storing sugar and vitamins, and eliminating waste substances from the body. The liver also produces bile (xamaeti), which aids in the digestion of fats.

Structure

The liver comprises large lobes that are subdivided. The basic functional unit is called the hepatocyte. These cells are arranged in small structures through which blood flows, allowing substances in the blood to interact closely with the cells.

The liver receives blood from two sources: oxygenated blood from the heart, and blood from the intestinal blood vessel. The latter carries nutrients absorbed from the intestines; thus the liver first processes these nutrients before they reach the rest of the body.

Bile and digestion

Bile produced by the liver is stored in the bile duct in many people and then released into the small intestine. Bile breaks down fats into small droplets, which facilitates the action of pancreatic enzymes in digestion. Bile also serves as a route for eliminating waste produced by the liver.

Detoxification and drug processing

The liver contains enzymes that transform medications, alcohol, and other foreign substances. This process generally makes the substance water-soluble so that it can be excreted by the kidneys or bile. For this reason, the effectiveness of most drugs depends largely on the liver's capacity.

Disease and damage

The liver is affected by various diseases, including viral hepatitis, bile stagnation in the liver, and cirrhosis, a condition involving replacement of normal tissue with scar tissue. A characteristic sign is jaundice (yellowing visible in the skin and eyes) when waste substances accumulate in the blood.

The liver possesses regenerative capacity unusual among internal organs; if part of it is removed, the remaining cells can proliferate and restore its volume. This capacity underpins partial liver transplantation from a living donor.