Your Liver
The liver is one of the largest and most important organs in the body; it operates as your body’s battery and keeps the body clean and healthy. As part of the digestive system, the liver’s job is to enhance the energy, filtration, and storage capacities of the body. While the liver can perform over 500 functions, key functions include:
- Breaks down and converts sugar, fat and protein from foods into energy1
- Fights infections2
- Filters and removes harmful chemicals called toxins from blood2
- Stores sugar, vitamins and minerals2
- Produces substances needed for stopping excessive bleeding from cuts or injuries3
- Produces a chemical called bile that helps digestion of fats2
The liver is four times larger than needed for survival and is made up of millions of liver cells called hepatocytes.4 It is the only internal organ that can regenerate itself.
References
1 Britannica Encyclopedia Online. Liver. Available at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/344579/liver#tab=active~checked%2Citems~checked&title=liver%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia. Accessed 11 September 2008.
2 Hepatitis B Foundation. Your Liver and Its Functions. Available at http://www.hepb.org/hepb/your_liver.htm. Accessed 11 July 2008.
3 British Liver Trust. Summary of the liver’s functions. Available at http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/home/the-liver/summary-of-the-livers-functions.aspx. Accessed 11 July 2008.
4 British Liver Trust. The Liver. Available at http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/home/the-liver.aspx. Accessed 17 July 2008.
1 Britannica Encyclopedia Online. Liver. Available at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/344579/liver#tab=active~checked%2Citems~checked&title=liver%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia. Accessed 11 September 2008.
2 Hepatitis B Foundation. Your Liver and Its Functions. Available at http://www.hepb.org/hepb/your_liver.htm. Accessed 11 July 2008.
3 British Liver Trust. Summary of the liver’s functions. Available at http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/home/the-liver/summary-of-the-livers-functions.aspx. Accessed 11 July 2008.
4 British Liver Trust. The Liver. Available at http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/home/the-liver.aspx. Accessed 17 July 2008.
