The liver
Livers are one the biggest organs in the body and has a number of different functions and is an essential organ in our bodies, performing around 30 duties per day and over 500 functions overall. It acts as an incinerator for wastes, central heating plant, reservoir of food elements, keeping the bodies’ internal levels stable and detoxifying poisons. The main functions that the focus of this report on, is its role in detoxification, and how the liver deals with poisons and toxins.
how does the liver deal with toxins
One of the functions of the liver is the detoxification of the blood, ridding the body of toxins and poisons. Like most of the organs in the body, livers depend on oxygen to work and continue functioning. The oxygen comes from blood and red blood cells, being pumped around the body by the heart but there are also other substances in blood, such as poisons and toxins. This allow the liver to detoxify the blood through enzymes, such as Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate Transaminase (AST), into inactive metabolites, which are easier to deal with and for the body to get rid of.
There are two many phases involved in the breaking down of toxins in the body, Phase 1 relies on a family of cytochrome P450 enzymes along with antioxidants to properly neutralizes each toxin which passes through the liver. It can be through direct deactivation or modifying so that it can be more easily deal with. Phase 2, molecules are added to the toxin to create substances which can be excreted through bile or urine. These two phases require ATP in order to work properly, and if the liver is under too much pressure, it can have serious effects on the body.
If the liver is over-run by toxins, or no longer deal with certain toxins or poisons, the damaged cells can leak into the body, resulting in higher amount of chemical and toxins throughout the bloodstream, and depending on the severity of the problem, can lead in liver diseases. As well as this, the toxic levels lead to significant stress on vital organs, such as the heart, brain or kidneys and other aspects of the body. Some of the less serious include, headaches, nausea, dark circles and skin problems.
There are two many phases involved in the breaking down of toxins in the body, Phase 1 relies on a family of cytochrome P450 enzymes along with antioxidants to properly neutralizes each toxin which passes through the liver. It can be through direct deactivation or modifying so that it can be more easily deal with. Phase 2, molecules are added to the toxin to create substances which can be excreted through bile or urine. These two phases require ATP in order to work properly, and if the liver is under too much pressure, it can have serious effects on the body.
If the liver is over-run by toxins, or no longer deal with certain toxins or poisons, the damaged cells can leak into the body, resulting in higher amount of chemical and toxins throughout the bloodstream, and depending on the severity of the problem, can lead in liver diseases. As well as this, the toxic levels lead to significant stress on vital organs, such as the heart, brain or kidneys and other aspects of the body. Some of the less serious include, headaches, nausea, dark circles and skin problems.
The Anatomy of the liver
The liver is one of the body’s largest organs, consisting majorly of a left and right lobe. The liver, anatomically, is positioned to the right of the stomach, above the gall bladder, pancreas and duodenum and is protected by the
ribcage.
The liver is composed of soft tissues, encapsulated by lobules that connect to both small and large ducts that play a role in forming the hepatic duct. The role of the hepatic duct is to transport bile to the gallbladder and small intestine.
Ligaments
The liver is connected in four locations; the coronary ligament, the left and right triangular ligaments, and the falciform ligament. Not specifically ligaments, they are condensed regions of peritoneal membrane that support the liver.
The coronary ligament connects the central portion of the liver to the diagram. The left and right triangular ligaments connect the superior ends of the liver to the diaphragm.
The falciform ligament runs from the diagram, across the anterior portion of the liver to the inferior section of the liver, also forming the ligament of the liver connecting it to the umbilicus.
Lobes
The left and right lobes are separated by the falciform ligament, the right side being the largest lobe. The caudate lobe extends from the posterior side of the right lobe, close to the inferior vena cava. The quadrate lobe stems from the right lobe, situated in close proximity to the gallbladder.
Lobules
The liver largely consists of lobules, the internal structure is made of 100 000 hexagonal units. The central lobule veins are surrounded by 6 hepatic portal veins and arteries. The vast amount of blood vessels are connected by sinusoids, much like capillaries, that extend from portal veins, joining at a central vein. The two main types of cells in liver tissue are Kupffer cells and Hepatocytes. Kupffer cells are involved in the breakdown and deterioration of red-blood cells that pass through the liver sinusoids. The main cell found in the liver is Hepatocytes, lining the sinusoids and carry out a vast majority of functions. These include metabolic reactions, storage, digestion and the production of bile.
Bile Ducts
Bile ducts transport bile through the liver to the gallbladder. The branched structure allows for the name ‘Biliary Tree.’ The bile canaliculi catch the drained bile that is produced by liver cells. They join into larger bile ducts.
Bile from the left and right lobes is carried through hepatic ducts that join to a larger hepatic duct. The cystic duct, originating from the gallbladder joins the common hepatic duct the form the common bile duct. This duct carries bile to the duodenum.
The majority of bile is re-pushed up the cystic duct by the process known as peristalsis. This bile is ultimately stored in the gallbladder until later digestion.
Blood Vessels
Blood is carried to the liver via the hepatic portal vein system. All blood throughout the body that is for the liver is filtered through capillaries and collected into the hepatic portal vein which then delivers blood to the liver. From there, the blood is processed via smaller vessels before being transported to the rest of the body. The hepatic veins lead to the vena cava then to the heart. The liver, like all other bodily organs, contains specific arteries and arterioles that produce and provide its own oxygenated blood to its tissues.
ribcage.
The liver is composed of soft tissues, encapsulated by lobules that connect to both small and large ducts that play a role in forming the hepatic duct. The role of the hepatic duct is to transport bile to the gallbladder and small intestine.
Ligaments
The liver is connected in four locations; the coronary ligament, the left and right triangular ligaments, and the falciform ligament. Not specifically ligaments, they are condensed regions of peritoneal membrane that support the liver.
The coronary ligament connects the central portion of the liver to the diagram. The left and right triangular ligaments connect the superior ends of the liver to the diaphragm.
The falciform ligament runs from the diagram, across the anterior portion of the liver to the inferior section of the liver, also forming the ligament of the liver connecting it to the umbilicus.
Lobes
The left and right lobes are separated by the falciform ligament, the right side being the largest lobe. The caudate lobe extends from the posterior side of the right lobe, close to the inferior vena cava. The quadrate lobe stems from the right lobe, situated in close proximity to the gallbladder.
Lobules
The liver largely consists of lobules, the internal structure is made of 100 000 hexagonal units. The central lobule veins are surrounded by 6 hepatic portal veins and arteries. The vast amount of blood vessels are connected by sinusoids, much like capillaries, that extend from portal veins, joining at a central vein. The two main types of cells in liver tissue are Kupffer cells and Hepatocytes. Kupffer cells are involved in the breakdown and deterioration of red-blood cells that pass through the liver sinusoids. The main cell found in the liver is Hepatocytes, lining the sinusoids and carry out a vast majority of functions. These include metabolic reactions, storage, digestion and the production of bile.
Bile Ducts
Bile ducts transport bile through the liver to the gallbladder. The branched structure allows for the name ‘Biliary Tree.’ The bile canaliculi catch the drained bile that is produced by liver cells. They join into larger bile ducts.
Bile from the left and right lobes is carried through hepatic ducts that join to a larger hepatic duct. The cystic duct, originating from the gallbladder joins the common hepatic duct the form the common bile duct. This duct carries bile to the duodenum.
The majority of bile is re-pushed up the cystic duct by the process known as peristalsis. This bile is ultimately stored in the gallbladder until later digestion.
Blood Vessels
Blood is carried to the liver via the hepatic portal vein system. All blood throughout the body that is for the liver is filtered through capillaries and collected into the hepatic portal vein which then delivers blood to the liver. From there, the blood is processed via smaller vessels before being transported to the rest of the body. The hepatic veins lead to the vena cava then to the heart. The liver, like all other bodily organs, contains specific arteries and arterioles that produce and provide its own oxygenated blood to its tissues.