The Liver (1)

Where is the liver located? The human liver is a reddish -brown coloured organ (if it’s healthy). It lies in the upper right epigastrum directly underneath the diaphragm and is covered by the lower ribs. The liver is ensheathed with the capsula fibrosa . It is devided into four lobes.

There are two big lobes ( lobus dexter and lobus sinister ) and two small lobes ( lobus quadratus and lobus caudatus ). The liver portal (porta hepatis) where the major blood vessels enter the liver is in between. Within the liver there are a variety of hepatic plates . These functional units are made up of hepatocytes. The liver’s blood supply is via two different blood vessels: the liver artery and the portal vein . The liver artery provides the liver with high oxygen content blood.

The portal vein is the vessel which carries blood from the abdomen, stomach, pancreas, spleen and gallbladder into the liver. Therefore the portal vein carries everything from the digestive organs into the bloodstream, e.g. nutrients and poisonous substances. Both liver vessels branch into a fine capillary network within the liver, assuring the transported substances to reach the finest liver cells.

Why do we have a liver? Weighing about 1.4–1.8 kilogram, the liver is the heaviest organ and the biggest gland within the human body. Working 24 hours a day, the liver is a kind of a chemical factory that works day and night. The liver is important for processing everything we eat, drink, breathe or rub into our skin. It helps the body by providing it with energy (glucose), fighting off infections and neutralizing toxins.

It assists in clotting the blood and regulating hormones. Blood Cleansing happens there by neutralizing and destroying poisonous substances. The liver also metabolizes alcohol and other drugs or chemicals. The liver helps the body with the production, storing and exporting fat. It assembles many essential body proteins which are involved in transporting substances into the blood to provide resistance to infection.

Many hormones (sex hormones, thyroid hormones, cortisones and other adrenal hormones) are balanced by the liver. Cholesterol, an important molecule required for cell membrane production is regulated and produced here. Body cholesterol is excreted and converted into other essential substances. Bile is produced, which eliminates toxic substances from the body. The supply of essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron and copper , are regulated within the liver.

What are the basic functions of the liver? The liver is involved in the body’s glucose, fat and protein metabolism. It also regulates the blood sugar level. It stores glucose as glycogen, synthesizes fatty acids and blood proteins such as albumine, and it produces and secretes approximately one liter of bile per day. Bile is essential for the digestion of fat. It is stored in the gallbladder and released via the bile duct into the duodenum. Whenever you eat a meal rich in fat and protein, the gallbladder is stimulated to release bile and then the fat and proteins can be degraded . The liver is absolutely essential for detoxification . It degrades alcohol, drugs and pharmaceuticals. It transforms dietary proteins into the body’s own proteins. Also old erythrocytes are degraded and iron is stored in the liver.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Ryu M, Cho A: New Liver Anatomy – Portal Segmentation and the Drainage Vein. Springer Verlag GmbH, August 2009. 2. http://dict.leo.org 3. www.dict.cc 4. www.webster-dictionary.org

EXERCISE: 1. Mark the main function of the liver.

a) Production b) Detoxification c) Oxidation d) Reduction

2. Where in the body is the liver situated?

a) Besides the kidney b) Besides the bladder c) Besides the heart d) Besides the intestines

3. Bile is secreted by

a) liver b) kidneys c) lungs d) abdomen

4. Which of the following are liver functions?

Please select all that apply: a) Storage of potassium b) Secretion of bile c) Storage of glycogen d) Synthesis of clotting factors e) Detoxification of xenobiotics

You’ll find the answers on: http://tinyurl.com/weiterbildung-englisch

Die Autorin: Carmen Lobitz mail@lobitz-seminare.de www.lobitz-seminare.de Carmen Lobitz ist freie Trainerin, Lehrerin und MTA. Sie gründete 1998 in Berlin lobitz seminare, die u.a. Englischseminare für Health Professionals anbieten.

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Lösung für Exercise:

Answer: 1. b

Answer: 2. c

Answer: 3. a

Answer: 4. b, d, e

The Liver (1)

Where is the liver located?

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The Liver (1)

Where is the liver located?

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