Title: Liver Anatomy Description: Anatomy of the liver; drawing shows the right and left lobes of the liver. Also shown are the bile ducts, gallbladder, stomach, spleen, pancreas, small intestine, and colon. Anatomy of the liver. The liver is in the upper abdomen near the stomach, intestines, gallbladder, and pancreas. The lobules are connected to small ducts tubes that connect with larger ducts to ultimately form the common hepatic duct.
The common hepatic duct transports bile made by the liver cells to the gallbladder and the first part of the small intestine the duodenum. Bile is a clear yellow or orange fluid that helps digest food. The liver controls most chemical levels in the blood. It also secretes a clear yellow or orange fluid called bile. Blood by-products are filtered out by the kidneys, and leave the body in the form of urine. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. Liver: Anatomy and Functions Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Share on Pinterest Share via Email Print this Page Liver Gallbladder and Pancreas Anatomy of the liver The liver is located in the upper right-hand portion of the abdominal cavity, beneath the diaphragm, and on top of the stomach, right kidney, and intestines.
Shaped like a cone, the liver is a dark reddish-brown organ that weighs about 3 pounds. Functions of the liver The liver regulates most chemical levels in the blood and excretes a product called bile. Some of the more well-known functions include the following: Production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion Production of certain proteins for blood plasma Production of cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through the body Conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for energy and to balance and make glucose as needed Regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which form the building blocks of proteins Processing of hemoglobin for use of its iron content the liver stores iron Conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea urea is an end product of protein metabolism and is excreted in the urine Clearing the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances Regulating blood clotting Resisting infections by making immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream Clearance of bilirubin, also from red blood cells.
The by-product of this process is called ammonia, which can be toxic to the body in large amounts. The liver turns the toxic ammonia into a substance called urea. The liver releases this into the blood where the kidneys excrete it via the urine.
The liver is truly an amazing organ in that it has the capacity to regenerate. This means that after an injury or surgery to remove tissue, the liver tissue can grow back to a certain extent.
The liver starts growing back by having the existing cells enlarge. Then, new liver cells start to multiply. Within a week after removing two-thirds of the liver, the liver can return to the same weight it was before surgery. The liver has been known to regenerate completely after as many as 12 partial liver removal surgeries.
There are many types of diseases that can affect the liver and its functions. Some have successful treatments while others do not. Examples of common conditions that affect the liver include:. Autoimmune hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis and other liver damage.
If left untreated, the condition can cause liver scarring and affect liver tissue. Fortunately, there are treatments available for the condition. Cirrhosis is a condition where scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue. A number of conditions can cause cirrhosis. This condition causes an excess of iron to build up in the body. Too much iron can damage the liver. Viral hepatitis refers to a viral infection that causes liver inflammation.
Each has different causes and severity. Hepatitis A is more common in developing countries that lack clean drinking water and have poor sanitation systems. Most people can recover from hepatitis A without liver failure or long-term complications. Hepatitis B can cause a short- or long-term infection. However, a person can also get it through sharing needles or accidentally injecting themselves with a contaminated needle.
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