Liver - Anatomy and Functions

FUNCTIONS
~300 Vital functions
Produces bile
Detoxifies the blood to rid it of harmful substances such as alcohol and drugs
Stores some vitamins and iron(K, A, D, E, B12)
Stores the simple sugar glucose
Converts stored sugar to usable sugar when the body’s sugar (glucose) levels fall below normal.
Breaks down hemoglobin as well as insulin and other hormones
Converts ammonia to urea, which is vital in metabolism
Destroys old red blood cells

LIVER DISFUNCTION
SYMPTOMS:
1.Digestive problems
2.Blood sugar problems (hypoglycaemia);
3.Immune disorders;
4.Abnormal absorption of fats;
5.Metabolism problems
6. Nervous system disorders (depression,
mood changes, “foggy brain”).
7.Migraine
8.Itching
9. Loss of appetite
10.Pain in the upper right quadrant of abdomen
11.Jaundice

DISEASES
Hepatitis (inflammation caused by various viruses)
Alcoholic liver disease
Fatty liver disease (large vacuoles of triglyceride fat accumulate in liver cells)
Fascioliasis (parasitic infection)
Cirrhosis
Liver cancer
…