Full Answer
What is the basic functional unit of the liver?
What is the basic functional unit of the liver? portal areas, or hepatic triads. a branch of hepatic portal vein, a branch of the hepatic artery proper, and a branch of the hepatic (bile) duct. See full answer to your question here .
What does the liver function test include?
- Albumin, a protein made in the liver
- Total protein. ...
- ALP (alkaline phosphatase), ALT (alanine transaminase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and gamma-glutamyl tansferase (GGT). ...
- Bilirubin, a waste product made by the liver.
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LD), an enzyme found in most of the body's cells. ...
What function does the liver serve?
What Is the Function of the Liver?
- Function. Many of the functions of the liver relate to digestion. ...
- Features. The liver processes so much blood that at any given moment it contains up to one pint of blood. ...
- Identification. The liver is located just beneath the diaphragm in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity. ...
- Size. ...
- Considerations. ...
How many functions does the liver have?
The liver is your largest internal organ, it has a number of vital functions, in fact the liver is said to have 500 functions. Let’s make it easier to understand the role of the liver by breaking these functions down into five categories. The five major functions of the liver include: Filtration Digestion Metabolism and Detoxification
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What are the functions of the liver?
The liver is an essential organ of the body that performs over 500 vital functions. These include removing waste products and foreign substances from the bloodstream, regulating blood sugar levels, and creating essential nutrients. Here are some of its most important functions: 1 Albumin Production: Albumin is a protein that keeps fluids in the bloodstream from leaking into surrounding tissue. It also carries hormones, vitamins, and enzymes through the body. 2 Bile Production: Bile is a fluid that is critical to the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine. 3 Filters Blood: All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver, which removes toxins, byproducts, and other harmful substances. 4 Regulates Amino Acids: The production of proteins depend on amino acids. The liver makes sure amino acid levels in the bloodstream remain healthy. 5 Regulates Blood Clotting: Blood clotting coagulants are created using vitamin K, which can only be absorbed with the help of bile, a fluid the liver produces. 6 Resists Infections: As part of the filtering process, the liver also removes bacteria from the bloodstream. 7 Stores Vitamins and Minerals: The liver stores significant amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, as well as iron and copper. 8 Processes Glucose: The liver removes excess glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and stores it as glycogen. As needed, it can convert glycogen back into glucose.
What is the liver?
The liver is reddish-brown and shaped approximately like a cone or a wedge, with the small end above the spleen and stomach and the large end above the small intestine. The entire organ is located below the lungs in the right upper abdomen. It weighs between 3 and 3.5 pounds.
How many lobes are there in the liver?
The liver consists of four lobes: the larger right lobe and left lobe, and the smaller caudate lobe and quadrate lobe. The left and right lobe are divided by the falciform (“sickle-shaped” in Latin) ligament, which connects the liver to the abdominal wall. The liver’s lobes can be further divided into eight segments, which are made up of thousands of lobules (small lobes). Each of these lobules has a duct flowing toward the common hepatic duct, which drains bile from the liver.
What does the liver store?
Stores Vitamins and Minerals: The liver stores significant amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, as well as iron and copper. Processes Glucose: The liver removes excess glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and stores it as glycogen. As needed, it can convert glycogen back into glucose.
What is the role of vitamin K in blood clotting?
Regulates Blood Clotting: Blood clotting coagulants are created using vitamin K, which can only be absorbed with the help of bile, a fluid the liver produces. Resists Infections: As part of the filtering process, the liver also removes bacteria from the bloodstream.
What is the function of albumin in the body?
Albumin Production: Albumin is a protein that keeps fluids in the bloodstream from leaking into surrounding tissue. It also carries hormones, vitamins, and enzymes through the body. Bile Production: Bile is a fluid that is critical to the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine.
Which ligament separates the two lobes of the liver and connects it to the abdominal wall?
Falciform Ligament: A thin, fibrous ligament that separates the two lobes of the liver and connects it to the abdominal wall. Glisson’s Capsule: A layer of loose connective tissue that surrounds the liver and its related arteries and ducts.
