Questions and Answers
What is the approximate percentage of water in the liver?
What is the primary source of energy for cells in the body?
What is the liver's role in digestion?
What happens to the liver if it is damaged?
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What is the liver's function in removing toxins from the body?
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What happens to the glucose stored in the liver when the body needs extra energy?
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What is the main function of bile in the digestive process?
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Why is cholesterol important for the body?
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What happens to excess cholesterol in the liver?
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What can happen if the liver does not maintain healthy levels of cholesterol?
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Study Notes
Liver Basics
- Weighs approximately three pounds and is the size of a football
- Located just under the rib cage in the upper right part of the stomach
- Composed of two main parts called lobes, with the right lobe being larger than the left lobe
- Second-largest organ in the body (skin is considered the largest organ)
Liver Functions
- Cleans the blood by removing harmful toxins
- Acts like a warehouse for energy by storing glucose (glycogen) for later use
- Makes bile, a thick, yellow-green liquid that helps absorb fats from food
- Helps maintain healthy levels of cholesterol by removing excess cholesterol and producing it when necessary
Liver Characteristics
- Has the ability to regenerate, or regrow itself, from as little as 25% of its original size
- Composed of 96% water
- Performs four main jobs: cleaning the blood, storing energy, making bile, and balancing cholesterol levels
Importance of Liver Functions
- Removes toxins to prevent them from acting like poison in the body
- Regulates energy levels by releasing stored glucose when needed
- Facilitates fat absorption from food through bile production
- Prevents heart disease and heart attack by maintaining healthy cholesterol levels
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Description
Learn about the liver's structure, location, and essential functions in the human body, including detoxification, energy storage, and bile production.