The liver is a large, meaty organ located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, beneath the diaphragm. It is the largest internal organ in the body and performs many important functions, including:
* Metabolism: The liver plays a central role in metabolism, converting nutrients from food into energy and storing excess energy as fat.
* Detoxification: The liver removes toxins from the blood, including alcohol, drugs, and waste products from metabolism.
* Storage: The liver stores glycogen, a form of glucose that can be released into the bloodstream when needed.
* Bile production: The liver produces bile, a fluid that helps digest fats.
The liver is divided into two main lobes, the right lobe and the left lobe. The right lobe is larger than the left lobe and contains the gallbladder, a small organ that stores bile.
The liver is made up of millions of tiny lobules, which are the basic structural units of the liver. Each lobule consists of a central vein surrounded by hepatocytes, which are the cells that perform the liver's functions.
The liver is a complex organ with a vital role in maintaining homeostasis in the body. It is constantly filtering the blood and removing toxins, ensuring that the body has a steady supply of energy and nutrients.
Here is a more detailed look at the structure of the liver:
* The liver capsule: The liver capsule is a tough, fibrous membrane that surrounds the liver and protects it from damage.
* The hepatic artery: The hepatic artery is the main artery that supplies blood to the liver. It branches off the abdominal aorta, the main artery that supplies blood to the abdomen.
* The portal vein: The portal vein is a large vein that carries blood from the intestines, spleen, and pancreas to the liver. This blood contains nutrients from digested food, as well as toxins that need to be detoxified.
* The hepatic veins: The hepatic veins are three large veins that carry blood from the liver to the inferior vena cava, the main vein that carries blood back to the heart.
* The bile ducts: The bile ducts are a network of small tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.
The liver is a highly vascular organ, meaning that it is rich in blood vessels. This allows it to quickly and efficiently perform its many functions.
The liver is also a very resilient organ. It can regenerate itself, meaning that it can grow new tissue to replace damaged tissue. This allows the liver to repair itself after injury or disease.