10 Functions of Liver in Human Body
The liver is dark brown and weighs about 1.5 kg. Its width is about 15 cm and it is divided into two lobes which are known as right lobe and left lobe.
Earlier, we discussed an article titled “The Functions of the pancreas in the digestive system.” You can read that article for more information.
Although there are hundreds of functions of the liver, but in this article we will know the main 10 functions of the liver in the human body.
10 Functions of Liver in Human Body (Overview):
- Production of bile juice.
- Production of fibrinogen.
- Production of Heparin.
- Regulates the amount of glucose in the blood.
- Stores some amounts of vitamins, iron, and copper.
- Convert Carbohydrates into fat when needed.
- Forms R.B.C. in the embryo of mammals.
- Decomposes the deceased R.B.C.
- Performs detoxification in our body.
- Produces antibodies and antigens.
10 Functions of Liver in Human Body (In Detail):
(1)-Production of bile juice:
Bile juice is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder (the gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ found just below the right lobe of the liver).
Bile juice helps in breaking down fat from food into fatty acids in our intestine. This helps fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients be more easily absorbed into the bloodstream.
(2)-Production of fibrinogen:
This fibrinogen protein helps to form a blood clot during a cut in the body. Therefore, indirectly, the liver also saves the blood coming out of the body during the cut.
(3)-Production of Heparin:
The liver also produces a protein called heparin.
Heparin is produced inside the liver, which prevents blood from clotting inside the body.
(4)-Regulates the amount of glucose in the blood:
Under carbohydrate metabolism, the liver converts the glucose part of the blood into glycogen and stores it in its hepatic cells. The liver breaks down the accumulated glycogen into glucose when the body needes glucose.
And then this glucose dissolves in the blood and fulfils the needs of the body.
An Intresting fact about the liver: the human liver does not die until 75% of its cells are damaged. The liver repairs itself on its own.
(5)-Stores some amounts of vitamins, iron, and copper:
Vitamins and minerals obtained from food are used by the body. But the extra unused amount remains in the body itself.
The liver stores the remaining amounts of vitamins A, B12, D, iron, and copper. The liver adds these stored vitamins and minerals back to the body when needed.
