Digestion Part 2

Question 1

What are the main functions of the liver

Answer 1

• Detoxifies blood by removing and metabolizing poisonous substances.
• Stores iron and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
• Makes from plasma proteins amino acids.
• Stores glucose as glycogen after eating and breaks down glycogen to glucose to raise the blood glucose concentration between eating periods.
• Produces urea from the breakdown of amino acids (urea excreted by the kidneys).
• Hemoglobin from red blood cells to breakdown products (bilirubin and biliverdin) excreted along with bile salts in bile. (Iron recycled)
• Produce bile salts, which are stored in the gallbladder before entering the small intestine, where bile salts emulsify fats. (Yellowish green colour).