Interesting liver facts

September 7, 2010 | In: Medical facts

The liver is a remarkably complex organ which serves as the chemical factory for the body. There is a very wide range of functions that are performed by the liver.

One of these functions is to produce important proteins for the blood. Some of these proteins play roles in the immune system (complement factors), some in the blood clotting pathway (coagulation factors), and some in the regulation of intravascular blood volume (albumin).

Another function of the liver is to help regulate blood sugar levels by storing glycogen when glucose is plentiful, and releasing it when it is needed. The liver also regulates the levels of many key molecules, such as amino acids.

Perhaps the most important role of the liver is to detoxify and remove many poisonous substances from the blood. The liver does this by absorbing the toxins from the blood, altering their structure to make them water-soluble, and excreting them into the bile. The bile is then emptied into the small intestine, and the now harmless toxins are eventually eliminated with the feces.