What is the function of the liver in the digestive system?
Answer (1)
The liver plays multiple critical roles in the body, especially within the digestive system. It is the largest internal organ and acts like a processing plant for everything we ingest. In the digestive process, the liver’s primary function is the production of bile, a yellow-green fluid that helps emulsify fats—breaking large fat globules into smaller ones so that enzymes like lipase can digest them more efficiently.Bile produced by the liver is stored and concentrated in the gallbladder, then released into the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) when food containing fat enters. This process is essential for the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K.Beyond fat digestion, the liver performs several other functions:Metabolism: It processes carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. It stores excess glucose as glycogen (glycogenesis) and releases it back into the blood when needed (glycogenolysis).Detoxification: The liver neutralizes toxins from drugs, alcohol, and metabolic waste. Harmful substances are broken down so they can be safely excreted.Synthesis of blood proteins: It produces important proteins like albumin (which maintains blood pressure) and clotting factors (which help stop bleeding).Storage: The liver stores iron, copper, and fat-soluble vitamins.Breakdown of old red blood cells: The liver breaks down hemoglobin from worn-out red blood cells and converts the waste product into bilirubin, which becomes part of bile.Without the liver’s contribution, digestion, metabolism, and detoxification would be severely impaired. Diseases like hepatitis, fatty liver disease, or cirrhosis can significantly disrupt its functions.
