What are the functions of the liver

If you think about what we know about the liver, in most cases it will be very little. In part, this is even paradoxical, because the liver, firstly, is perhaps the largest and most difficult human organ (only the brain can compete with it), and secondly, it is exceptionally multifunctional - it has about five thousand different biochemical reactions.

Before enumerating at least the basic functions of the liver, let's first try to find it. Another paradox is the biggest organ, and many people do not even know where it is. Look for it in the upper right part of the abdomen, but do not try to grope - it is reliably covered with ribs from external influences and damages. As we have already said, the liver has considerable size and weight - up to one and a half kilograms, or about five percent of the total mass of a person. Especially impressive is the size of the liver in children - the norm at birth is approximately one sixteenth of the body. Do you know what is the most amazing property of it? This is the ability to regenerate, in other words - to self-recovery. Even if you remove half of this body, after three months it will look like a brand new one. Anatomy of the liver may seem familiar to housewives, since it resembles the same organ of animals displayed on the meat stalls of deli. It clearly identifies two parts, with the right one six times larger than the left. And another extremely important feature is that the liver can be supplied with blood from two sources: the main one - the artery and the "spare" - the portal vein. And this is also the guarantee of its "vitality".

And now what interests us mainly is the function of the liver. Its main purpose is to protect our body from various dangerous and simply harmful substances. They enter our body in huge quantities - with food or drugs, and also form in the body itself because of the metabolic processes taking place in it. And these very chemical reactions that constantly occur in the liver, decompose and render harmless all these undesirable substances. In fact, this is a living biological laboratory of detoxification. Neutralized substances come out of the liver or with bile through the intestine, or with blood, through the kidneys, and then in the form of urine.

The next important function of the liver is the production of useful substances and the emulsification of fats. It is in it that half of the cholesterol needed by the body is formed (the second half comes with food), which is a part of the membranes of every cell of the body and is the basis for the formation of many hormones. Here, too, a "wide assortment" of proteins, so necessary to the body, is being developed, which are, in part, a constituent part of the blood. And the liver produces bile, which just helps to emulsify, that is, break down into tiny particles eaten by us fats. In such a crushed form, the enzymes of the pancreas will already cope with them . Bile also contributes to contractions of the intestines, and this helps digestion.

But by neutralization, processing and formation of substances, the liver functions are not limited. It still serves as a kind of strategic warehouse on which the body keeps its "untold stock". So, the liver "catches" excess sugar and converts them into glycogen - an insoluble substance that, when glucose deficiency, quickly replenishes the shortage. Stocks of some vitamins and trace elements are also stored in this "storehouse" - also in case they are not enough to eat with food. And even some blood reserve also "adheres" to the liver - with severe blood loss, it helps to prevent shock for a while.

We listed only the basic functions of the liver, but from this it is not difficult to understand how indispensable for us this body. And if so, then it is important to protect it. Moreover, this modest toiler is deprived of pain receptors and he will never "tell" about his problems. Only with the failure of the liver, we are aware of all the horror of what happened. Therefore, you should know its three main enemies - alcohol, smoking and fat - and not give them will.