Page 11 - Clinical Biochemistry 08PB804

Chapter 2:
Liver Diseases

Outlines:

• Functions of the liver
• Liver Function Tests
• Liver diseases
• Diagnosis of liver diseases

Liver facts

• All blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver.

• The bile helps to carry away waste products from the liver.

• Liver has reserve functional power and can operate effectively when most of the
hepatocytes are not working well. In addition, diseased hepatocytes can actually regenerate
and return to normal function.

Functions of the liver

Some of the more well-known functions include:

• Metabolism: The liver is the organ that regulates the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates,
and proteins.

• It is responsible for the production of certain proteins for blood plasma.

• Production of cholesterol.

• Storing carbohydrates for energy.

• Detoxification: Drug detoxification is an important liver function. Several phases are
involved with this detoxification. Conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea, which is one of
the end products of protein metabolism that is excreted in urine.

Bile Metabolism

• Bile is made up of electrolytes, cholesterol, bile acids, bilirubin, and globulins.

• It is produced and secreted by hepatocytes into channels in the liver called bile cannaliculi,
and stored in the gall bladder.