What Is the Liver?

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

Learn about the liver's role in cleaning the blood, digesting food, and storing energy, and discover its importance in the human body.