Download Word Count: 963 The Liver: Facts, Functions, and Structure of Justin

Word Count: 963
The Liver:
Facts, Functions, and Structure of
Justin Amos
Anatomy/ Physiology
October 24, 1997
Facts and Functions
The liver is the largest organ in the entire, normal human body. It weighs
anywhere from 2.5 to 3.3 pounds. With its large size it is also a very resilient organ. Up
to 3/4 of its cells can be removed before is ceases to function. It is red-brown organ
roughly shaped like a cone. The liver is located in the upper right abdominal cavity
immediately beneath the diaphragm. Without the liver, we could not survive. It serves as
the body’s chemical factory and it regulates the levels of most of the main chemicals in
the blood. It is classified in the digestive system, because of the bile it produces. Bile is
produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Although it contains no digestive
enzymes, bile does dilute and neutralize stomach acid, and it increases the efficiency of
fat digestion and absorption. The liver is the organ that allows us to drink alcohol. With
the help of the kidneys, the liver clears the blood of drugs, alcohol, and other poisonous
substances by absorption. It then alters the chemical structure of the substance absorbed,
makes them water soluble, and excretes it in the bile. From there, the bile carries waste,
including the absorbed substance, to the small intestine, taking a pitstop at the
gallbladder, where it also helps in the breakdown and absorption of fats present.
The liver also produces albumin, compliment, coagulation factors, and globin; all
important proteins for blood plasma. Albumin regulates the exchange of water between
blood and tissues. Compliment is a group of proteins that plays a part in the immune
system’s defenses against infection. Coagulation factors enable blood to clot when a
blood vessel wall is damaged. Globin is a major component of the oxygen-carrying
pigment hemoglobin. Yet another function of the liver is to produce synthesized
cholesterol and special proteins that carry fats around the body.
Along with producing many important substances, it also stores a lot of important
substances as well. It receives glucose ,not immediately needed, from the hepatic portal
vein and stores it as glycogen. When the body needs more energy and heat, the liver
converts the stored glycogen back to glucose and releases it into the bloodstream to be
used. As with the blood, the liver also regulates the blood level of amino acids,
chemicals that form the building blocks of proteins. After we eat a meal, our blood
contains too high a level of amino acids. The liver converts some of these acids into
glucose, proteins, other amino acids, and urea, which is passed to the kidneys for
excretion in the urine.
Structure
The liver contains two main lobes, left and right, which are separated by the
falciform ligament, a connective tissue septum. The liver also consists of two minor
lobes, caudate and quadrate. Oxygenated blood flows into the liver through an artery
called the hepatic artery and nutrient-rich blood via the portal vein. From there, the blood
drains into the hepatic vein carrying carbon dioxide and plasma proteins. Bile made by
liver cells and carrying all of those harmful substances is excreted through a network of
ducts called the bile ducts. As these ducts grow larger, they fuse to form fight and left
hepatic ducts which join and carry the bile to the gallbladder. The smaller bile ducts
inside the liver, and branches of the hepatic artery an portal vein form the portal tracts, a
kind of conduit system.
Compliments
As the liver is one of the most important organs, it must be taken good care of.
Liver abscesses are a common liver disorder. It is a localized collection of pus in the
liver and can be caused by a diverticular disease or appendicitis and invasion by amebae,
one-celled parasites; although, sometimes the cause cannot by identified. The abscess
can usually be drained through a needle inserted through the abdominal wall and guided
by ultrasound. Abdominal surgery is the other option.
Another liver compliment is liver cancer. This is a malignant tumor in the liver.
More commonly in the U.S., liver cancer, arises from a primary tumor in another organ.
One way to fix this condition would be to completely remove the tumor where cirrhosis
isn’t present, but that is a very rare condition. Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver
characterized by the replacement of normal tissue with fibrous tissue and the loss of
functional liver cells. More commonly used are anticancer drugs, which help victim
survive longer. Also a liver transplant can be done, as well. There is no cure for
secondary liver cancer, but anticancer drugs will slow down the decay.
Yet another liver disease is alcoholic liver disease. This occurs when damage is
caused to the liver because of persistent heavy alcohol consumption. This can progress to
cirrhosis, severe structural damage, loss of liver function, and eventually death.
With all of the liver’s important functions it is obviously a major organ, and one
to be taken seriously. The liver must not be abused, because if it is the body will be
damaged greatly and possibly destroyed.
Bibliography
Clayman, Charles B., ed. Home Medical Encyclopedia. New York, NY:
Dorling Kindersley Limited and the American Medical
Association, 1989:
644-647.
Seeley, Rod R. Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology. St. Louis, MO: Mosby- Year
Book, Inc., 1991: 413.
Volume 8, Compton’s Pictured Encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: F.E. Compton &
Company, 1961: 313.
Keywords:
word count liver facts functions structure justin amos anatomy physiology october facts
functions liver largest organ entire normal human body weighs anywhere from pounds
with large size also very resilient organ cells removed before ceases function brown
organ roughly shaped like cone liver located upper right abdominal cavity immediately
beneath diaphragm without could survive serves body chemical factory regulates levels
most main chemicals blood classified digestive system because bile produces bile
produced stored gallbladder although contains digestive enzymes bile does dilute
neutralize stomach acid increases efficiency digestion absorption that allows drink
alcohol with help kidneys clears blood drugs alcohol other poisonous substances
absorption then alters chemical structure substance absorbed makes them water soluble
excretes from there carries waste including absorbed substance small intestine taking
pitstop gallbladder where also helps breakdown absorption fats present also produces
albumin compliment coagulation factors globin important proteins blood plasma albumin
regulates exchange water between tissues compliment group proteins that plays part
immune system defenses against infection coagulation factors enable clot when vessel
wall damaged globin major component oxygen carrying pigment hemoglobin another
function produce synthesized cholesterol special proteins that carry fats around body
along with producing many important substances stores important substances well
receives glucose immediately needed from hepatic portal vein stores glycogen when
needs more energy heat converts stored glycogen back glucose releases into bloodstream
used regulates level amino acids chemicals form building blocks after meal contains high
level amino acids converts some these acids into glucose other amino urea which passed
kidneys excretion urine structure contains main lobes left right which separated falciform
ligament connective tissue septum consists minor lobes caudate quadrate oxygenated
flows into through artery called hepatic artery nutrient rich portal vein there drains
hepatic vein carrying carbon dioxide plasma made cells carrying those harmful excreted
through network ducts called ducts these ducts grow larger they fuse form fight left
which join carry gallbladder smaller inside branches artery portal form tracts kind conduit
system compliments most organs must taken good care abscesses common disorder
localized collection caused diverticular disease appendicitis invasion amebae celled
parasites although sometimes cause cannot identified abscess usually drained through
needle inserted abdominal wall guided ultrasound abdominal surgery other option another
compliment cancer this malignant tumor more commonly cancer arises primary tumor
another this condition would completely remove tumor where cirrhosis present very rare
condition cirrhosis chronic disease characterized replacement normal tissue fibrous tissue
loss functional cells more commonly used anticancer drugs help victim survive longer
transplant done well there cure secondary cancer anticancer drugs will slow down decay
disease alcoholic this occurs when damage caused because persistent heavy alcohol
consumption progress cirrhosis severe structural damage loss function eventually death
functions obviously major taken seriously must abused because will damaged greatly
possibly destroyed bibliography clayman charles home medical encyclopedia york
dorling kindersley limited american medical association seeley essentials anatomy
physiology louis mosby year book volume compton pictured encyclopedia chicago
compton company
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