Liver is considered to be the second largest organ in your body. It is located on the right side of the abdomen and is well protected by the rib cage. The liver has two lobes namely right lobe and left lobe. Its main task is to filter the impurities present in the blood before sending it other parts of the body. Many important functions of the body depend on the health of the liver which makes it a vital organ in our body.
Functions of liver :
Digestion is the primary function of our body in which the liver plays vital role with the secretion of bile, a chemical compound. Bile gets stored in the gallbladder which is then released to break down the fatty molecules of the food. It makes the entire process of digestion easier by emulsification of fats. Large cluster of fat particles are broken down into smaller pieces so that the body can easily absorb it.
Metabolism :
Liver is responsible for metabolizing many compounds into useful materials. Hepatocytes are special cells present in the liver which does the task of metabolism. The food we eat contains carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and other important nutrients. Liver metabolizes these compounds and convert them into biologically accepted substance to facilitate the process of absorption.
It is the digestive system that breaks down carbohydrates into simpler molecules of glucose. Blood that leaves the liver is always rich in glucose absorbed from food. Now hepatocytes of the liver absorb these glucose molecules to store them in the form of glycogen which are then released into the body when needed. Thus liver plays an active role in maintaining the blood glucose level. Hepatocytes convert not only carbohydrates but also fatty acids and glycerol. They secrete several important lipids that are very much needed for the body. After absorbing certain amounts of fat particles the rest of the cholesterol are excreted in the form of bile.