The function of the liver is to get rid of the body's toxins, but it's not just that

The liver is the largest organ in the digestive system which has many functions. Also known as the liver, this organ not only assists in the digestion process, but also plays a role in the circulatory system and various other mechanisms in your body.

In contrast to the stomach and intestines which are part of the digestive tract, the liver is an accessory or complementary organ. In the digestive process, the liver also works with other systems such as the gallbladder, nerves, lymph vessels, intestines, and many more.

Here's the structure, function, and various information about the liver in your digestive system.

Position and structure of the liver in the human body

The liver is located in the upper right abdominal cavity. This organ is just below the diaphragm and takes up most of the space under the ribs. Due to its large size, the liver also occupies a small portion of the space in the upper left abdomen.

At the bottom of the liver, there is a small green organ which is none other than the gallbladder. One of the functions of the liver is to form bile. This bag will hold the bile before it is used in the digestive process.

In order to understand the anatomy of the liver, you need to get to know its parts first. The liver consists of hemispheres called lobes, some connective tissue, and vascular pathways. The following are the various components that make up the heart.

1.Lobe (hemisphere)

The liver consists of two main lobes. However, you can also observe the other hemisphere if you look at the back of this organ. The liver lobes can actually be further divided into smaller sections, but here's what to know.

• Right lobe: the right hemisphere of the liver, which is largest, about six times the size of the left lobe.
• Left lobe: the left hemisphere of the liver which is much smaller than the right lobe.
• Caudate lobe: upper hemisphere visible only from behind.
• Quadratus lobe: lower part of the liver visible only from behind.

2.Connecting connective tissue (ligament)

The liver is covered by a layer of connective tissue called the Glisson capsule. The connective tissue in the liver then also develops into several types of ligaments with a function as a barrier between one lobe and another.

The following are various connective tissues found in the liver.

• Falciform ligament . This crescent-shaped tissue attaches to the front of the liver and naturally separates the right and left lobes.
• Coronary ligament . This network is attached to the top to the bottom of the heart which borders the diaphragm to form a triangle.
• Triangular ligament . This network is divided into the right ligament which divides the right lobe of the liver, and the left ligament which divides the left lobe of the liver.
• Lesser omentum. This tissue attaches to the bottom of the liver bordering the stomach and large intestine.

3. Liver vessel system

The liver stores about 473 mL of blood each time. This amount is roughly equivalent to 13% of your body's blood supply. The blood that flows towards the heart mainly comes from two sources, namely:

• oxygen-rich blood from the arteries of the liver, and
• nutrient-rich blood from the veins of the liver.

When examined under a microscope, you will see that the liver cells make up hundreds of the smallest units called lobules. All the vessels that enter and leave your liver are connected to these lobules to interact with liver cells.

Liver cells produce the main ingredients that make up bile. One of the main functions of the vessels of the liver is to drain bile into the gallbladder. In addition, bile is also flowed into the intestines for digestion.

4. The nervous system of the liver

The function of the liver is controlled by a nervous system known as hepatic plexus . This nervous system enters the liver and branches therein in the same way as blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients.

The function of the liver in the human digestive system

Launching the Johns Hopkins Medicine page, scientists have found at least 500 important functions of the liver for the body. However, the most well-known main functions of this organ are to aid digestion, break down red blood cells, and detox.

All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines will flow to the liver. The liver then processes the incoming blood by breaking it down, balancing the levels of the chemicals in it, and breaking down the medicinal properties that the blood carries from the stomach.

Of the hundreds of known liver functions, here are some of the most common.

1. Produce bile

Bile is an important fluid produced by liver cells. The main composition is water, bile salts, bile acids, bile pigments, and bilirubin. In addition, there is also a content of cholesterol, phospholipids, and mineral electrolytes.

The function of bile in the digestive system is to convert fat in the small intestine into small lumps that are easier to digest. However, before carrying out its function, the bile will first be stored in the gallbladder.

Meanwhile, the basic ingredients of bile that are not used in the digestive process are converted into bile acids by intestinal bacteria. The bile acids are then sent back to the liver for use in the next digestive process.

2. Process the chemicals that you consume

Another important function of the liver is to cleanse the blood of drugs, chemicals, alcohol, and various potentially toxic substances. The liver performs this function by converting chemicals into water-soluble molecules.

In addition, the liver also converts toxic ammonia into urea to be excreted in the urine. The liver's ability to process chemicals can be influenced by your age, gender, liver and kidney health, and your genetic makeup.

3. Remodel old red blood cells

The red blood cells in your body have a lifespan of around 100-120. After that, the old red blood cells will be broken down in the liver cells. Red blood cells that have been reconstituted will then turn into biliverdin.

Biliverdin then mixes with other substances to turn into another substance called bilirubin. Bilirubin is then flowed into the blood, filtered by the kidneys, and excreted in the urine. This substance makes urine appear yellowish in color.

4. Regulate various mechanisms in the blood

Apart from breaking down red blood cells, the liver also produces proteins that aid in blood clotting and oxygen transport. This organ can store iron which is processed from hemoglobin, which is a special protein that binds oxygen to red blood cells.

5. Save energy reserves

In digestion of carbohydrates, the liver functions to stabilize glucose (blood sugar) levels. When your blood sugar is high, for example after eating, the liver will filter sugar from the blood and store it as an energy reserve in the form of glycogen.

Once your blood sugar levels drop, the liver will break down the existing energy reserves. Your glycogen stores are broken down into glucose, then released back into the bloodstream. If necessary, the liver will also release some vitamins and minerals.

When blood sugar levels get very low, your body will take energy reserves from fat. Again, your liver has a function in converting fat into energy to replace sugar.

6. Other functions

Here are a variety of other functions of the liver for your body.

• Produce cholesterol and special proteins to carry fat throughout the body.
• Regulating the amount of amino acids in the blood, which later becomes the embryo of the body's building blocks.
• Prevent infection by forming immune factors and getting rid of bacteria in the blood.

Once they reach the liver, the substances that enter the body are processed, stored, converted, purified, and channeled back into the blood or released into the intestines. Substances that are sent to the intestine will be used in the digestive process.

In this way, the liver can purify the blood from alcohol and avoid the by-products of drug breakdown. The blood will then be filtered by the kidneys and useless substances can be excreted from the body through urine.

Foods and drinks that maintain liver function

You can maintain liver function by adopting a healthy diet for this organ. The reason is, healthy food and drinks will provide the nutrients needed to maintain optimal liver performance.

Here are the foods and drinks that you need to consume.

1. Water

About 60% of your body weight is water. Your liver also needs water to work properly. If you don't get enough water, your liver is usually the first organ to be most affected.

When your body lacks water, toxins will settle in your body. In these conditions, characteristics such as a thick urine color usually appear. So, fill your fluid needs by drinking at least two liters of water every day.

2. Vegetables

Vegetables that are good for liver function include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy and daikon. These vegetables contain flavonoids, carotenoids, and sulforaphane. These natural substances can help liver function, neutralize chemicals, pesticides, and drugs.

There are also other leafy greens such as kale, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower which are high in sulfur. These chemicals are known for their detoxifying abilities like that of the human liver.

3. Sea plants

Sea plants that are beneficial for liver function are known as algae. The types of algae that you can consume include nori, kombu, wakame, and many more. This sea plant helps the liver in preventing the metal from being absorbed by your body.

4. Nuts and oatmeal

Fiber-rich foods such as oatmeal can help reduce body fat. This can reduce the risk of developing disease in the liver. Nuts, which are rich in vitamin E, can also protect your liver from fatty liver disease.

5. Fruits

Fruits especially strawberries, raspberries , and cranberries contains anthocyanins and polyphenols which have been shown to inhibit the development of liver cancer cells. In addition, they are also rich in antioxidants and can treat acne and aging problems.

6. Fermented food

Fermented foods such as kimchi, pickles, and yogurt can increase gut bacteria that aid digestion. The chemical compounds present in fermented foods have also been broken down so that they are easily digested by people with liver disease.

7. Healthy fats

Fat provides the body with energy reserves for activities, including carrying out liver functions. Even so, not all types of fat are good for your body. You still need to limit the consumption of saturated fat or trans fat in processed foods.

On the other hand, healthy fats found in natural foods such as olive oil, avocado, whole grains, and fatty fish are considered better. This is because the type of fat contained in these ingredients is unsaturated fat.

8. Spices

Consuming spices is the cheapest way to have a healthy liver. These ingredients help the liver function because they are rich in natural detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial agents.

The liver is not only important for the digestive system, but also for various other systems in your body. The anatomy of this organ is divided into lobes separated by connective tissue. In each lobe, there are blood vessels and innervation.

The main functions of the liver include producing bile, removing toxic substances from the body, and remodeling red blood cells. You can maintain a healthy liver by leading a healthy lifestyle and eating foods that are good for this organ.

x