The Liver

The liver is the largest internal organ, located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity
beneath the diaphragm. It performs over 500 essential functions crucial for survival. Some key details:

Size and Weight: A normal adult liver weighs approximately 3 pounds and spans 8-12 inches across.
Despite its sizable scale, only about 2% of the circulated blood supply passes through it each minute.

Functions: The liver acts as a major chemical processing plant, breaking down nutrients, producing bile
and storing important vitamins and minerals. It filters toxins from the blood, transforms and exports
wastes, and regulates protein and clotting factor synthesis.

Lobes: The liver is divided into four unequally sized lobes separated by fissures containing blood vessels
and bile ducts. This segmented structure allows continued functioning even if part of the organ is
damaged.

Blood Supply: The liver receives significantly more blood flow than any organ besides the heart,
receiving nutrients and oxygenating blood directly from the digestive system via the hepatic portal vein.

Detoxification: The liver works tirelessly to metabolize and excrete external poisons and internally
produced toxic byproducts through complex enzymatic processes and conjugation reactions for safer
removal.

Regeneration: Remarkably, the liver is one of few organs with an innate ability to repair and regrow
itself even after large sections are surgically removed. This regenerative power helps maintain optimal
function over a lifetime.

Sustaining the body’s many metabolic processes, the hardworking liver performs vital roles that
are integral for survival and good health.