Your liver is the largest organ in your body. Embyologically, it developed as a granular outgrowth of the primitive foregut. The main functional cell in the liver is a type of epithelial cell called the hepatocyte. The cells are arranged as thin plates separated by fine vascular sinusoids through which blood flows.
The liver can be seen as a mega factory involved in production, packaging / storage, and distribution of vital products in the body. The major functions of the liver can be summarized as follows :
1.Fat metabolism
_ oxidation of triglycerides to produce energy
_ synthesis of plasma lipoproteins
_ synthesis of cholesterol and phospholipid
2.Carbohydrate metabolism
_ converting carbohydrates and proteins into fatty acids and triglycerides
_ regulation of blood glucose concentration by glycogenesis, glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis
3. Protein metabolism
_ synthesis of plasma proteins, including albumin and clotting factors
_ synthesis of non essential amino acids
_ detoxification of metabolic waste products ( e.g deamination of amino acids and production of urea)
4. Intermediary metabolism
_ detoxification of various drugs and toxins (e.g alcohol)
5. Storage
_ storage of glycogen, vitamins, iron
6. Secretion
_ Synthesis and secretion of bile, which contains many of the products of the above processes.
Therefore, it is very crucial for good care to be taken of the liver since many of the life processes depend largely on it.
Reference :
Young et al (2014) .Wheater's Functional Histology 6th ed. Elsevier, USA.
