Question

What are the functions of liver?

Answer 1

Liver is the largest and heaviest internal organ of the body. It is not directly involved in digestion, but secretes digestive juices. It secretes bile which plays a major role in the emulsification of fats.

Answer 2

Liver is the largest gland of the body and consists of hepatic cells. Besides being a digestive gland, the liver performs a number of functions for the welfare of body. Its varied functions are as follows

1. Secretion of bile.
2. Glycogenesis, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.
3. Storage of fat, glycogen, vitamins like A, D, E, K and B₁₂, blood, water, etc.
4. Deamination of amino acids.
5. Synthesis of urea.
6. Elimination of excretory substances.
7. Detoxification of harmful substances.
8. Formation and breakdown of blood
   corpuscles, i.e., in embryos, liver is haemopoietic (produces red blood corpuscles) and in adults its Kupffer cells phagocytise and destroy worn out and dead RBCs.
9. Secretion of blood proteins, i.e., pro-thrombin and fibrinogen.
10. Secretion of anticoagulant heparin.
11. Production of heat.
12. Secretion of enzymes.