WHY IS THE LIVER SO IMPORTANT TO OUR SURVIVAL?

Our wonderful organs and systems inside of us work every second of our life to keep us healthy and alive. The liver is the largest solid organ in the body. It weighs about three and a half pounds.  It measures about 8 inches horizontally (across) and 6.5 inches vertically (down) and is 4.5 inches thick. The liver is located just below the diaphragm, primarily in the upper right part of the abdomen, and mostly under the ribs.

The liver has a multitude of important and complex functions. Some of these functions are to: Manufacture proteins, including albumin (to help maintain the volume of blood) and blood clotting factors; Synthesize, store, and process (metabolize) fats, including fatty acids (used for energy) and cholesterol; Metabolize and store carbohydrates, which are used as the source for the sugar (glucose) in blood that red blood cells and the brain use; Form and secrete bile that contains bile acids to aid in the intestinal absorption of fats and the fat-soluble Vitamins A,D,E and K; Eliminate the potentially harmful biochemical products produced by the body, such as bilirubin from the breakdown of old red blood cells and ammonia from the breakdown of proteins; Detoxify, by metabolizing and/or secreting, drugs, alcohol, and environmental toxins

The liver has many special features. For example, in order to carry out its secreting functions, ducts (tubes) closely connect it to the gallbladder and intestines. Thus, bile made by the liver travels through these tubes to the gallbladder where it is stored between meals and then is discharged into the intestines at mealtime to aid in digestion. Another example, the liver is appropriately situated in the body to directly receive the blood that comes from the intestines (portal blood). With this arrangement, the liver can readily process nutrients absorbed from food as well as other contents of the portal blood. The liver is considered the biochemical factory of the body. Our liver can repair itself if damaged a certain amount and over time, but we could not live without it being healthy.