Welcome guys to another exciting episode of THINGS TO KNOW where we talk about life, nature and facts of science.

Today we will be talking about THE LIVER AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH IT

So What is this organ called Liver?

Our liver is a large reddish-brown organ with two lobes which lies just below the diaphragm right side, partly overlapping the stomach. Leading from the liver to the small intestine is the bile duct, to which the gallbladder is attached. It is a soft organ with a rich and extensive blood supply.

What are the Functions of our Liver?

First of all, do you know?
Our liver is a complex organ with many functions including homeostasis. It is the liver that screens the food-laden blood from our small intestine and adjusts its composition to suit our body's immediate needs before releasing it into the circulatory system.

The Liver Serves as:

A Storage for Blood: Do you know our liver is full of blood vessels can store up to 1500 cm of blood?
When the blood vessels are constricted more blood enters the general body circulation. The reverse occurs when are vessels are dilated. The liver also regulates the volume of blood as well as the blood pressure in general circulation.
Storage for Vitamins and Minerals: Do you know our liver also stores fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K
as well as, the water-soluble vitamins, B and C? It also stores iron and other minerals like copper, zinc and potassium.
Formation and Breakdown of red blood cells:
In the foetus, the liver produces red blood cells. While
In adults, together with the spleen, the liver breaks down worn out red blood cells.
Inactivation of Hormones: Do you know your liver can inactivate your body hormones, thereby ending their period of activity? The activities of certain hormones like testosterone are rapidly destroyed; while others like insulin are destroyed more slowly.
The liver usually exerts a homeostatic effect on the activities of our hormones.
Protein Metabolism: Do you know the liver only releases the required amount of amino acids into the general circulation of our body. The excess amino acids cannot be stored, the liver breaks them down into:
nitrogen-containing amino parts which is then converted to urea for excretion by the kidneys; and
carbon compounds which the liver converts into glucose, glycogen or fats.

** The liver manufactures plasma proteins from dietary amino acids. These proteins include globulins, albumins and other essential for clotting like fibrinogen.

Lipid Metabolism: Do you know the liver breaks down lipids to produce glucose and other substances if needed by the body? It then modifies what remains for transport to fat storage areas in the body. By converting excess glucose to fats for storage.
Carbohydrate Metabolism: Also known as glucose levels in the blood.
Do you know our liver can control the blood glucose level and keep it within normal limits by the following homeostatic process?
The liver converts any excess glucose in the blood that reaches it after a meal to glycogen. This process is stimulated by the hormone insulin which is secreted by the pancreas.
When blood glucose level falls below normal, the liver converts glycogen into glucose, and releases the required amount of glucose into the blood. This process is stimulated by glucagon.
Bile Production: Do you know our liver can produce bile which is stored in the gall bladder and secreted into the duodenum when needed?
The bile which is 98% water and it contains:
bile salts which aid in fat digestion;
yellowish pigment, bilirubin, an excretory product formed during the breakdown of haemoglobin from worn out red blood cells;
inorganic salts; and
cholesterol.
Detoxication: This is the process when the liver converts many toxic and biologically active foreign substances into harmless or inactive forms. These are then excreted from the body.
Substances detoxicated by the liver include:
drugs and medicines;
poisonous substances produced in the large intestine by bacterial action;
food preservatives and additives;
pollutants present in air and water.
Production of heat: Do you know the livers numerous metabolic activities produce heat as a by-product? This is distributed throughout the body by the blood circulation and helps to keep the body warm.

Diseases that can affect the Liver:

Credits

Gall stones: These are stony masses that form in the gall bladder.

Interesting Facts

Gallstones are composed of cholesterol;
Gall stones are due to the production of abnormal bile by the liver.
Gallstones formation is due to chemical changes in the composition of bile that leads to precipitation and stone formation.
Gall stones obstruct the flow of bile and increase infections of the gall bladder, bile ducts and liver.
Gallstones are usually accompanied by inflammation of the gall bladders.
Viral hepatitis: This is divided into two types which are:
infective hepatitis caused by virus type A; and

serum hepatitis caused by virus type B.

In both cases, the virus causes inflammation and destruction of the liver cells. Although when the infection subsides, the liver usually recovers and functions normally which is sometimes rare.

Cirrhosis: This is a very serious liver disease in which the damaged liver cells become replaced by useless fibrous tissue. which makes the liver very firm and irregular.
Cirrhosis can also be caused by excessive drinking of alcohol over a long period of time. While in most cases, the cause is unknown.
Jaundice: This is caused by an increase in the blood bilirubin level. Which gives a yellow coloration to the skin and whites of the eyes.
Jaundice may be due to three main causes which are:
Excessive breakdown of red blood cells: This causes the formation of large amounts of bilirubin. This excessive destruction of red blood cells may occur during a malarial bout, in newborn babies and in inherited defects of the red blood cells e.g. sickle-cell anaemia.
Obstruction of the bile duct: This is mostly caused by the blocking of bile ducts by gallstones. These stones prevent the bile from emptying into the intestines. As a result, the blood level of bilirubin becomes raised,the stools are pale and contain undigested fats.
The urine is usually dark yellow or brown.
Diseases of the liver: These damage liver cells and end up reducing the liver's ability to extract bilirubin from the blood to form bile. This inadequate bile production results in pale stools containing undigested fatty substances.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Liver Diseases:

Tendency to bleed and bruise easily
Slight Fever
Weakness and tiredness
Mental changes
High blood pressure
Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen

Treatment for Liver Diseases

Rest: This is the most important part when treating liver diseases, until the jaundice subsides, and a long convalescence period.
a nutritious but controlled low fat diet; and
no taking of alcoholic drinks for the rest of the patient's life.
removing the cause of the liver disorder
where possible.
Lastly, Liver transplant for patients
with progressive liver cirrhosis and cancer of the liver, which is also the same encountered in kidney transplant.

A person can donate a lobe of his/her liver for transplant and the remaining liver can regenerate and attain its normal size.