The unknown facts about liver

Liver is one of the most important and 2nd largest organ after skin you can say the largest internal organ of our body. The liver performs various function, but the major work performed by the liver is the filtration of the blood. Like water is filtered by kidney, liver also filters the blood, remove the waste harmful materials, and provide us the purified blood.

Liver is located in the abdominal cavity between diaphragm and stomach. It is a reddish brown organ which looks like a cone and weights about 1500 grams. The liver is consisted of 4 lobs, Two major lobs and two minor lobs. The liver transports the blood through two vessels. The blood transporting vessels of liver are called haptic artery and haptic veins. The haptic artery transport oxygenated blood and the haptic portal veins transport nutrients rich blood from the body to the liver. Liver carries about 13% of total blood of the body.

Important functions performed by liver

From stomach and intestines, the blood reaches to liver. The liver filters the blood, remove harmful materials and transport the blood to the body. The main functions of liver are ;

1. Carbohydrates metabolism

Carbohydrate in the form of glucose is one of the most important substance of our body, because it is the quickest source of energy. So, Liver maintain the concentration of glucose in our blood when we eat food. This process is done with the help of two hormones, insulin and glucagon. When pancreas releases insulin to regulate the concentration of glucose in the blood. The liver at the same time start the process of glycogenesis. The Glycogenesis means the conversion of glucose into glycogen. Glycogen is the stored form of carbohydrate, and it is stored in muscles and various other body parts. In case of starvation, if glucose level become low in blood then this glycogen is converted into glucose by glucagon hormone, which is released by pancreas. 

2. Fat metabolism

Another important functions of liver is metabolism of fats. In case of fats metabolism, the large lipid molecules are converted to smaller components such is cholesterol, lipoprotein, and phospholipid.

3. Protein metabolism 

Protein metabolism is also done by liver. In protein metabolism, the larger protein molecules are converted into small components such as amino acids and these Amino acid are converted into ammonia. Ammonia in the form of urine leaves the body through urination.

4. Detoxification 

Many dangerous substances are killed inside liver, whose One important example is bilirubin. Bilirubin is a substance which is formed as a result of RBC breakdown. So, liver detoxify the bilirubin. Liver also store important vitamin and minerals such as vitamin A, D, E, K, B12 and minerals such as copper phosphate and chlorine.

5. bile production

Bile is a yellowish green colored substance which is produced by liver and store in gallbladder. Bile contains water, bile salts, cholesterol, phospholipid, electrolytes and bile pigment. It helps in digestion and fat metabolism.

Interesting facts about liver

The month of March is called liver health month on this occasion let's discuss some facts about liver that mostly people don't know about One of the major fact about liver is that it has the ability to regenerate itself after damage. Liver store vitamins and minerals. It also has the ability to effect brain function. Liver can perform more than 500 functions. Liver performs a lot more important functions than discussed above. The survival of human is not possible if liver fails to function properly. Various infections also prevent the liver from functioning properly, but liver inflammation must be cured as soon as possible.