The human liver is one of the most important organs, it was previously believed that it is in it that vital energy is concentrated. Indeed, people cannot live without it. A modern person needs to know where the liver is, what its purpose is and what can disrupt the functioning of an important organ.
It is an unpaired entity, weighs more than a kilogram and performs so many functions that they still cannot artificially create a model of this organ.
Where is the liver located?
Its place in the human body is the right hypochondrium, i.e., the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. It has a fairly large size and shape resembling a triangle. Its tail part goes under the left rib. Normally, the liver should not protrude from under the costal arch.
On its different sides, it is in contact with the pleura, intestines, right kidney, adrenal gland and stomach.
The hepatic tissue itself does not have pain receptors, but a large number of them are contained in the capsule that covers the organ from the outside. With inflammation of the organ, this capsule stretches, which causes a characteristic pain where the liver is located.
The body is divided into shares. The right lobe is large, and the left is 5-6 times smaller.
In the lower part of it there is a gall bladder, it acts as a reservoir for bile, which is produced and flows down into the ducts.
Liver function
If you build a laboratory that can perform all the functions of this body, it will occupy a huge high-rise building. This body has more than 500 different functions, the most important of which are the following.
- Participation in the digestive process is the production of bile, lipids, enzymes and cholesterol.
- The neutralization of various toxins and poisons due to chemical reactions, when the initial harmful substance is first oxidized and then conjugated (some compound is attached, due to which the damaging properties of the poison are lost).
- Production of blood components in the fetus during fetal development
- Synthesis and accumulation of fat-soluble vitamins, trace elements.
- The liver can be called a “storehouse" of blood, this stock can be thrown out at a critical moment, for example during massive blood loss.
- The coagulating ability of blood depends on this organ, it is here that the components of hemostasis (stopping bleeding) are formed and stored, which are released into the blood as necessary.
- Gluconeogenesis is the conversion of substances of various compositions into glucose. It is known that glucose is the universal source of energy for cells. Without the work of the liver, obtaining this energy is impossible.
Diseases
The liver is in constant work, it always neutralizes something, synthesizes, removes. That is why its normal operation is important, in case of disturbances in functioning, other body systems give a malfunction.
With violations in the work of the organ, pain in the place where the liver is located does not always appear. This is due to the fact that its size does not increase, and the capsule does not stretch.
The organ can suffer from helminths, which clog the ducts, bacterial and non-bacterial formations (abscesses, cysts), as well as chronic nonspecific inflammations.
Today, a large number of people have hepatitis or cancer, without knowing for a long time. It is hepatitis C that is called the “affectionate killer,” where the liver is located, connective tissue appears that completely replaces healthy cells. Nothing bothers a person, and his body gradually decreases in size.
You can keep your liver healthy, for this you do not need to overload it with heavy fatty foods, use alcohol, drugs and smoke cigarettes. Often, a person himself endangers himself without thinking about the possible consequences.