World Liver Day 2024: Every year on April 19, World Liver Day Day is observed annually. The day emphasises spreading awareness about the various disease related to the liver. And as the number of cases is increasing every day, it is important to look after the complex organ.
The human liver is a very crucial organ and is the second-largest organ in the body. It is situated on the right side, upper abdominal area. Do you know that if the liver stops functioning, then a person will die? The liver is present in every single vertebrate, i.e. animals with a backbone, or spinal cord. The liver influences the metabolism of the body. It helps in burning fat and maintains body weight. It detoxifies and purifies the bloodstream. Let us study through this article the liver, its function and some important or unknown facts about it.
World Liver Day 2024: Quotes, Messages, Liver Cleansing Tips, Liver Functions, Diseases, and More
Important Facts About Liver
1. It has a dual identity
Liver is the largest gland and second largest organ of the Human Body. It can weigh up to 1.3 to 1.6 Kg for a human adult and is a reddish brown in colour. Liver filters the toxins or chemicals from the body which are disposed of as bile and remove it in the form of stool or urine. Brown colour to the stool is due to the bile which is produced in the liver.
2. An organ that can regenerate
Liver is the only organ that can regenerate or can completely regrow. To do so it only needs 25% of the original tissue. According to a 2009 study in the Journal of Cell Physiology, if a person needs liver transplantation and a person donates more than half of the liver then it returns to its original size in nearly two weeks.
3. Liver helps in water storage and carbohydrate metabolism
It helps to control blood sugar levels. If a person has fatty liver then type 2 diabetes may occur. It converts glucose from carbohydrate-rich foods into glycogen and is stored in the liver. It is released between meals to keep energy levels high. And also, glycogen absorbs water over 6 times its own weight, so the liver plays a vital role in the storage of water.
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4. Function of the brain somewhere depends upon the liver
Plasma glucose and ammonia levels are regulated by the liver. If it gets out of control then results in a condition known as hepatic encephalopathy and eventually coma. So, we can say that, if we want the brain to function properly then the working of the liver is important.
5. It helps in hormone metabolism
The liver is the major site of hormone breakdown. It breaks down estrogen and secretes it into bile, which enters the intestines for excretion. If the liver is overworked, it will not excrete estrogen properly and may get the symptoms of lumpy breasts, fluid retention, menstrual cramps etc. If the liver does not break androgen which is a male hormone properly then problems of acne, scalp hair loss, and facial hair in women may occur.
Do you know that Vitamin A, D, E, K and B12 along with iron and copper are stored in the liver? It also helps in converting vitamin D into its active form.
7. Liver is a protein creator and a clotting agent
For growth and proper working of our body, we need protein. The food that we eat is not sufficient for our body to fulfil its needs of it. So, the liver produces its own protein. Even the enzymes and chemicals required to form blood clots to stop bleeding during a wound or cut are secreted by the liver. People having unhealthy livers will bleed easily.
8. Liver acts as a medicine converter
Do you know that the medicine that we eat is not directly consumed by our body? It is the liver that converts it into a usable form so, that our body can accept it. Therefore, we can say that without liver medicine would be useless.
9. Liver determines cholesterol level
On the health of the liver, cholesterol level is determined. If the liver is fatty or sluggish then higher levels of bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides will be formed. We can say that the liver produces cholesterol which synthesises certain hormones and generates new cells.
10. Liver performs 500 different functions
According to scientists, the liver can perform around 500 different functions. Alcohol, drugs, and the virus (hepatitis B) can harm the liver. Due to unprocessed bilirubin, the colour of the eyes and skin turns yellow which means that liver is not working properly.
11. Detoxifier
Our liver detoxifies the hazardous substances we consume, such as alcohol and narcotics. The body cannot process these substances without the liver. Toxins are filtered by the liver through sinusoid channels, which are lined with immune cells known as Kupffer cells. These engulf, digest, and expel the poison. This is known as phagocytosis.
12. Recycler of blood
During foetal development, the liver creates blood, and as an adult, it recycles blood. It degrades old or damaged blood cells. It understands how to store iron and certain vitamins for use when those nutrients are insufficient in the bloodstream.
13. Largest Gland
The liver is the largest gland of our body. It is one of the most important organ of our body. Although there is no scientific name for the liver, all medical phrases that have anything to do with it begin with "hepato/hepatic."
14. Liver produces Glucose
The regulation of blood sugar levels is largely dependent on the liver. When blood sugar levels are low, it can produce glucose, which is then released into the bloodstream. Known as gluconeogenesis, this process aids in blood sugar regulation and guards against hypoglycemia.
15. Liver is our mental health guard
According to recent research, mental health may be influenced by the liver. The liver's job is to remove poisons from the blood, such as ammonia. Toxins build up in the body and have an impact on brain function when the liver is not operating properly. This may result in anxiety and depressive symptoms.
So, the liver is a very important organ of our body which performs several functions it is responsible for producing enzymes and chemicals that help the blood to clot and stop bleeding during a wound or cut. It stores sugar in the form of glycogen. When our body needs energy it breaks glycogen into glucose which is used by our body as energy fuel.
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