What are the functions of the liver in the human body? Functions of the liver. Why does a person need a liver and what is the liver responsible for in the human body Why is the liver so called

The human organ is the liver. It is unpaired and is located on the right side of the abdominal cavity. The liver performs about 70 different functions. All of them are so important for the life of the body that even a slight violation in its functioning leads to serious illnesses. In addition to participating in digestion, it cleanses the blood of poisons and toxins, is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals, and performs many other functions. To help this organ work without interruption, you need to know what is the role of the liver in the human body.

Basic information about this body

The liver is located in the right hypochondrium and takes up a lot of space in the abdominal cavity because it is the largest internal organ. Its weight ranges from 1200 to 1800 grams. In shape, it resembles a convex mushroom cap. She got her name from the word "furnace", since this organ has a very high temperature. The most complex chemical processes are constantly taking place there, and work is going on without interruption.

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of what is the role of the liver in the human body, because all the functions that it performs are vital for it. Therefore, this organ has regenerative abilities, that is, it can regenerate itself. But the cessation of its activities leads to the death of a person in a couple of days.

Protective function of the liver

More than 400 times a day, all blood passes through this organ, being cleansed of toxins, bacteria, poisons and viruses. The barrier role of the liver is that its cells break down all toxic substances, process them into a harmless water-soluble form and remove them from the body. They work like a complex chemical laboratory, neutralizing toxins that enter the body with food and air and are formed as a result of metabolic processes. From what toxic substances does the liver cleanse the blood?

From preservatives, dyes and other additives found in foods.

From bacteria and microbes that enter the intestines, and from their waste products.

From alcohol, drugs and other toxic substances that enter the blood with food.

From exhaust gases and heavy metals from the ambient air.

From an excess of hormones and vitamins.

From toxic products formed as a result of metabolism, such as phenol, acetone or ammonia.

Digestive function of the liver

It is in this organ that proteins, fats and carbohydrates coming from the intestines are converted into an easily digestible form. The role of the liver in the process of digestion is enormous, because it is there that cholesterol, bile and many enzymes are formed, without which this process is impossible. They are released into the intestines through the duodenum and help in the digestion of food. The role of bile is especially important, which not only breaks down fats and promotes the absorption of proteins and carbohydrates, but also has a bactericidal effect, destroying the pathogenic microflora in the intestine.

The role of the liver in metabolism

Carbohydrates that come with food, only in this organ are converted into glycogen, which enters the blood in the form of glucose as needed. The process of gluconeogenesis provides the body with the right amount of glucose. The liver controls the level of insulin in the blood depending on the needs of the person.

This organ is also involved in protein metabolism. It is in the liver that albumin, prothrombin and other proteins that are important for the life of the body are synthesized. Almost all of the cholesterol involved in the breakdown of fats and the formation of certain hormones is also formed there. In addition, the liver takes an active part in water and mineral metabolism. It can store up to 20% of blood and

serves as a storehouse of many minerals and vitamins.

Participation of the liver in the process of hematopoiesis

This organ is called the "blood depot". In addition to the fact that up to two liters can be stored there, hematopoiesis processes take place in the liver. It synthesizes globulins and albumins, proteins that ensure its fluidity. The liver is involved in the formation of iron, which is necessary for the synthesis of hemoglobin. In addition to toxic substances, this organ breaks down red blood cells, resulting in the production of bilirubin. It is in the liver that proteins are formed that perform transport functions for hormones and vitamins.

Storage of useful substances

Speaking about the role of the liver in the human body, it is impossible not to mention its function of accumulating substances necessary for vital activity. What is this organ the repository of?

1. This is the only place where glycogen is stored. The liver stores it and, as needed, releases it into the blood in the form of glucose.

2. About two liters of blood is there and is only used in case of severe blood loss or shock.

3. The liver is a repository of vitamins necessary for the normal functioning of the body. Especially a lot of vitamins A and B12 are stored in it.

4. This organ forms and accumulates cations of metals necessary for the body, such as iron or copper.

What can liver dysfunction lead to?

If this organ for some reason cannot work properly, then various diseases arise. You can immediately understand what is the role of the liver in the human body, if you see what violations in its work lead to:

Decreased immunity and constant colds;

Violation of blood clotting and frequent bleeding;

Severe itching, dry skin;

Hair loss, acne;

The appearance of diabetes and obesity;

Various gynecological diseases, such as early menopause;

Digestive disorders, manifested by frequent constipation, nausea and loss of appetite;

Nervous disorders - irritability, depression, insomnia and frequent headaches;

Disorders of water metabolism, manifested by edema.

Very often the doctor treats these symptoms without noticing that the cause is liver damage. There are no nerve endings inside this organ, so a person may not experience pain. But everyone should know what role the liver plays in his life, and try to support it. It is necessary to give up alcohol, smoking, spicy and fatty foods. Limit the use of drugs, products containing preservatives and dyes.

The normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is provided by many organs and glands. The functions of the liver in the human body are hard to overestimate. It is needed to participate in metabolic processes and inactivate toxins, is responsible for the formation of bile, maintaining the physiological functioning of the pancreas and intestines, and much more.

Purpose of the liver

The liver works constantly and is vital. Its physiology, structure and position in the body, as well as its location relative to other organs, determine the performance of valuable roles for the body. The main functions of the liver:

• barrier;
• exchange;
• digestive;
• filtration;
• hematopoietic;
• storage (glycogenic);
• hematopoietic;
• secretory;
• excretory;
• detoxification;
• protein-synthesizing.

Barrier role of the liver

The protective function is to rid the body of toxic products formed during metabolism by enzymatic oxidation, reduction, methylation and other chemical reactions. By filtering microorganisms and harmful substances that have entered the blood from the intestines, it neutralizes the blood through complex biochemical reactions, lysis and phagocytosis. Products are excreted in bile. For the qualitative performance of the barrier function, sufficient intake of proteins and fluids into the body is necessary.

lipid metabolism

The liver is involved in all types of metabolic processes. Fat metabolism is regulated by hormones (insulin, pituitary diabetogenic factor, ACTH) and enzymes. With an excess of lipids in the blood, they are hydrolyzed into fatty acids, ketones, cholesterol, glucose and lecithin. And with a deficiency - the liver synthesizes triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol. These reactions require choline and methionine, which supply the structural components for lipid synthesis. Their deficiency leads to the deposition of neutral fat and development. Part of the substances synthesized in the liver is secreted into the blood, and the rest remains in the body for further:

• Ketone bodies are amenable to further oxidation in the muscles, brain, and kidneys.
• Cholesterol enters the intestine in a small amount, while the main part forms bile acids, steroid hormones and esters.

Involved in digestion

The human liver is the largest digestive gland in the human body. The principle of its digestive function is secretory and excretory activity. The first is associated with the formation of bile by hepatocytes, and the second - with its release. Partially, the secret is excreted into the duodenum, and the accumulation of bile occurs in the gallbladder. In its composition it contains:

During the day, liver cells synthesize 500-1500 ml of bile. Due to its composition, it:

• Emulsifies fats.
• Hydrolyzes proteins and carbohydrates.
• Promotes absorption in the gastrointestinal tract of fat-soluble vitamins, cholesterol and amino acids.
• Increases the activity of pancreatic and intestinal enzymes.
• Inactivates pepsin of gastric juice that has entered the duodenum.
• Prevents the development of putrefactive processes in the intestines, due to the bactericidal effect on bacteria.

The role of the liver in digestion is to change gastric to intestinal digestion, support intestinal motility, and ensure that nutrients enter the bloodstream. Violation of the digestive function leads to the failure of the entire gastrointestinal tract.

The blood-forming functions of liver cells are manifested at the stage of embryonic development. After birth, the work of the liver in this direction changes: it no longer forms blood cells, but continues to take part in hematopoiesis due to hemolysis of obsolete erythrocytes, regulation of enzymes responsible for blood clotting, and also synthesizes the main protein elements: albumins, globulins and transferrin. In addition, here is the main blood depot, in which erythrocytes are destroyed with the formation of bilirubin from hemoglobin. And although the human organ does not directly participate in hematopoiesis, it plays an important role in the circulatory system.

Protein synthesizing function

The role of the liver in protein metabolism involves the processes of synthesis of the necessary and breakdown of waste proteins. Synthetic ability is manifested in the formation of proteins from external amino acids, which come with food, and internal, resulting from the breakdown of hormones, cell death. Protein-synthetic activity provides the body with heparin, fibrinogen, prothrombin, albumin, globulin, as well as complex protein compounds such as glycoproteins, lipoproteins, transferrin. In addition to their formation, protein toxic decay products are also processed, with the formation of harmless urea and uric acid from them.

Participation in carbohydrate metabolism

For normal functioning of the body, it is necessary to maintain a stable level of glucose in the blood. This function is partially performed by liver cells. When glucose (sugar) enters the blood after a meal, the glucokinase enzyme is activated, which ensures its absorption by hepatocytes and further metabolism. The pancreas produces insulin, which catalyzes the synthesis of glycogen from glucose. It accumulates in the liver and is broken down as needed. What is not converted to glycogen is broken down to release the energy needed for synthesis to form fatty acids and glycerol. If sugar enters the body in insufficient quantities, then the production of glucose from lactate, pyruvate, glycerol, fructose and galactose starts.

The role of the liver in carbohydrate metabolism is determined by its participation in the processes of glycogen synthesis and breakdown. This type of metabolism is controlled by the nervous and endocrine systems.

The liver, being the largest human gland (can reach up to 2 kg), performs a number of vital functions. In the digestive system, everyone knows that its main role is the production of bile, without which most of the food simply will not be broken down (absorbed), but this is far from its only purpose. What other functions of the liver exist and how do they affect the human body? To understand this issue, first, you need to decide on its structure, location in the body.

The liver in the human body: structure and location

It is located in the hypochondrium of the right cavity, slightly capturing the left side. This organ is a set of lobules, similar to microscopic prisms (up to 2 mm), with a very complex structure. A vein passes through the central part of each lobule with a certain number of crossbars, which consist of 2 rows of cells. These cells produce bile, which through the bile capillary forms large channels that combine into a bile stream. The distribution of the bile stream: the gallbladder (the lateral branch enters there), the duodenum (for example, bile is transported to the intestine, participating in the digestive act). So, having an idea about the structure, location of this organ, we can safely take up the study of its main functions, which can be divided into two main blocks: digestive and non-digestive.

Digestive functions

The secretion of bile is perhaps one of the most basic and well-known functions of the liver. Bile is a yellowish-green liquid that is produced by the liver, providing a change from gastric to intestinal digestion. Bile pigments are constantly generated by the liver due to the cellular breakdown of hemoglobin.
This liquid performs a number of mandatory processes of digestion:

• emulsification of fats (in simple words, the process of mixing fat with water) with a subsequent increase in their area for joint hydrolysis by lipase (the assimilation of fatty acids, the fats themselves and fat-soluble vitamins);
• dissolution of lipid hydrolysis products, facilitating their absorption and re-synthesis;
• a significant increase in the activity of intestinal enzymes (including lipase);
• increased hydrolysis and absorption of products of protein, carbohydrate nature;
• participation in the absorption of cholesterol, amino acids, salts;
• change in the acidity of gastric juice;
• maintaining normal intestinal motility.

In the absence of the need to break down food that enters the stomach, bile accumulates in the gallbladder with an increased concentration. Therefore, doctors often operate with the concepts of bile
hepatic and bladder. The secretion of bile (its amount) in all people occurs in different ways. However, the general principle is this: the sight, the smell of food, its direct intake causes relaxation of the gallbladder, followed by contraction - a small dose of bile enters the duodenum. Then, after the gallbladder is empty, bile begins to flow from the bile ducts, only then from the liver. A healthy human body is able to produce 0.015 liters of bile per kilogram of weight per day.

Non-Digestive Functions

1. Detoxification function
   The liver is a kind of barrier when harmful substances enter the body. The protective functions of the liver are especially useful to us when:
   - inactivation of toxins (may enter with food, occur in the intestine when its microflora changes);
   - neutralization of nitrogenous products (deamination), which are formed during the breakdown of proteins (indoles, phenols, ammonia);
   - the fight against microbes (about 80% of the microbes that can enter the human blood will be concentrated in the liver).
   It is necessary to monitor the level of glycogen in the blood, with a decrease in the content of which, barrier functions in the liver deteriorate significantly.
2. Regulatory function
   The liver is able to regulate blood glucose levels. With an increased sugar content, the liver produces glycogen with subsequent deposition. Then, if there is not enough sugar, the stored glycogen is broken down into glucose, which again enters the bloodstream, normalizing the amount of sugar.
3. exchange function
   The liver is actively involved in protein, carbohydrate, lipid, vitamin and water-salt metabolism.
   The liver is capable of:
   • synthesize blood proteins, cholesterol and lecithins;
   • forms urea, glutamines and keratins;
   • create the necessary conditions for normal blood clotting, dissolution of blood clots;
   • synthesize vitamin A, acetone, ketone bodies;
   • stock up on vitamins, throwing them into the blood as needed (A, D, K, C, nicotinic acid);
   • retain Fe, Cl ions, bicarbonate salts (water-salt exchange).

   Sometimes the liver is called a reserve warehouse, as well as a depot for the above reasons.

4. Immunological function (participation in human immune reactions, for example, in the inactivation of mediators that accumulate during allergic reactions).
5. Endocrine function, in which it is able to remove or ensure the exchange of a number of thyroid hormones, steroid types, insulin.
6. Excretory (ensuring homeostasis, that is, the ability to self-regulate the human body, with any changes in the state, even with the restoration of blood).
7. The hematopoietic function manifests itself most of all in the process of a woman's pregnancy during the formation of the fetus (a large amount of blood plasma proteins is synthesized to produce hormones and vitamins). Also, this gland is able to accumulate large volumes of blood, which can be thrown into the general vascular system during blood loss or shock situations, due to a sharp narrowing of the vessels supplying the liver.

Therefore, without the liver, as well as without the heart, the human body cannot exist. The liver takes part in many life-supporting processes, helps in moments of stress and a sharp shortage of any useful substances. The processes of food digestion and metabolism are possible only with normal liver function (retention, processing, distribution, assimilation, destruction, formation of a number of substances).

Liver dysfunction

Naturally, such an important human organ must be healthy and function normally. At the same time, medical practice knows a huge number of cases of liver disease. They can be classified into the following groups:

1. Damage to liver cells due to inflammatory (purulent) processes.
2. Mechanical damage (changes in its shape, structure, ruptures, open or gunshot wounds).
3. Diseases of the blood-supplying hepatic vessels.
4. Damage to the internal bile ducts.
5. The occurrence of neoplastic (cancerous) diseases.
6. Infectious diseases.
7. Abnormal and pathological changes in the liver (this also includes hereditary diseases).
8. Changes in the functioning of the liver in the pathology of other organs.
9. Functional (structural) tissue disorders, often provoking this insufficiency, cirrhosis.
10. Diseases caused by autoimmune viruses.

It is worth noting that any disease listed above will be accompanied by insufficiency and lead to cirrhosis.

Therefore, do not “postpone” if you notice any signs of liver dysfunction!

The main signs of impaired liver function

• 1st sign. Unwanted irritability and behavioral changes. Studies by scientists and experts in this field have shown that 95% of angry and irritable people suffer from certain liver diseases. Moreover, most people find their justification in everyday stress at the household level, although these are two interrelated processes. On the one hand, impaired liver function causes irritability in general, and, on the other hand, excessive anger and aggression contribute to the development of liver diseases.
• 2nd sign. Overweight and cellulite. This will clearly indicate violations of metabolic functions (prolonged intoxication of the body).
• 3rd sign. Reduced blood pressure even in young people. That is, hypotensive patients are at risk, they are advised to pay special attention to their liver.
• 4th sign. The formation of vascular networks and varicose veins. Here, too, everything is not so simple, the previous sign is interconnected in this. If you start to actively raise the pressure and thereby get rid of varicose veins, you can provoke the rapid development of hypertension. However, if vascular diseases such as varicose veins, hemorrhoids are observed in patients with high blood pressure, then this is already a very advanced process with abnormal liver function, including.
• 5th sign: irregular skin pigmentation and the appearance of "age" spots. The deposition of subcutaneous toxins will indicate a lack of antioxidants and the inability of the liver to perform protective and metabolic functions.
• 6th sign: excessive frequency of colds. This, most often, indicates poor microflora and intestinal motility against the background of intoxication of the body (the liver can no longer eliminate all toxins). So, toxins, reaching the liver and not being neutralized there, enter the organs of the respiratory system, negatively affect the immune system.
• 7th sign: stool disorders (most patients experience constipation). Normal bile secretion contributes to the absence of difficulties with the stool.
• 8th symptom: pain concentrated on the right under the ribs. This symptom is not as popular as the others (observed on average in 5% of patients), however, pain in this area will indicate violations of bile secretion (problems of its outflow).
• 9th symptom: long-term exposure to xenobiotics (drugs of a synthetic nature) provokes liver dysfunctions not immediately, but over time, especially when taken regularly.
• 10th sign: improper and irregular nutrition (3 meals a day is not an indicator of a proper diet, for those who want to have a healthy liver, it is advisable to eat about 5 times a day in small portions). It is also necessary to monitor the regularity of the consumption of vegetable fiber. It will not only improve the intestinal microflora, but also contribute to the normal synthesis of vitamins.
• 11th sign: dry skin, especially if this process is accompanied by hair loss. This indicates improper digestibility of food and a violation of the barrier function of the liver.
• 12th sign: lack of exogenous cholesterol with its subsequent accumulation in the vascular walls (signs of atherosclerosis). At the same time, you need to understand that an excess of carbohydrates in the diet, which is often observed with vegetarianism, will provoke stagnation of bile and the accumulation of cholesterol. The result can be not only atherosclerosis, but also non-alcoholic steatohepatitis of the liver. Although the main cause of it, fatty foods and alcohol, as such, were not overused.
• 13th sign: deterioration of vision, especially at dusk. Normal vision can only be with a sufficient amount of vitamin A, for which the liver is responsible. Vegetable fiber can again come to the rescue, in addition to binding toxins, it will significantly reduce the consumption of this vitamin A and its provitamins.
• 14th sign: reddened palms. The size of the areas of redness and their saturation can tell about the intensity of irritation in the liver tissues.
• 15th sign: changes in the results of tests that monitor the condition of the liver. Often this will indicate profound changes in the normal functioning of the liver.

Few people know, however, the causes of increased bone fragility and the development of osteoporosis may not be due to reduced calcium intake, but due to its improper absorption. When digested, food must be processed with bile so that the small intestine can absorb fat and calcium. If fat is not digested, it will settle on the walls of the intestine. Then, along with other waste, it will enter the large intestine, split a little, but most of it will still be excreted along with feces (if feces remain on the water at the time of emptying, this may indicate insufficient secretion of bile, because fat is lighter water, which means that the waste is supersaturated with undigested fat). The connection is quite interesting because calcium is not absorbed without fat. The lack of this substance the body will take away from the bones in order to make up for its deficiency.

If we talk about the appearance of stony formations in the liver or gallbladder, then a person’s stool will definitely be disturbed (feces can turn orange, yellow), premature aging and self-destruction of the body will begin, because the body will be unable to ensure its normal functioning. The main reason for the appearance of stones in the biliary system is a violation of the metabolic processes of bilirubin and cholesterol, which can occur during: inflammatory processes, dietary disorders (the predominance of fats in the diet, especially pork), hormonal imbalance, viral or other diseases.
Tip: if any sign is already bothering a person, it is recommended to immediately visit a gastroenterologist. In this case, you can prevent many liver diseases in time.

Keeping the Liver Healthy

In addition to common viruses, infections and pathologies, very often the person himself is to blame for the development of liver diseases. The environment (ecology, food quality) also has a lasting effect on the liver, but anyone who does not want to have liver problems should take care of himself. It is necessary to monitor compliance with the rules on labor protection in hazardous industries. Foods that have undergone any additional chemical processing make it incredibly difficult for the liver to work. You can not abuse alcohol. In addition, always supervise the processing of medical equipment. Pay close attention to donated blood (it can be a source of viral hepatitis). Try to take care of your diet as much as possible and do not treat all diseases with pills - this may provide a short-term improvement, but in the future it will contribute to the development of liver diseases. It would not be superfluous to recall once again that self-medication and improper treatment of pathologies of other organs can lead to secondary liver damage.

Remember that the liver is a connecting element between the two most important systems of the human body (blood supply and digestion). Any disruption of the work of this gland will contribute to the development of diseases of the heart, stomach and intestines.
And the simplest advice from doctors: if between 5-7 in the morning a healthy person drinks at least half a glass of water or herbal decoction, night bile (especially toxic) will leave the body and will not interfere with the normal functioning of the liver until the end of the day.

The name "liver" comes from the word "furnace", because. The liver has the highest temperature of all the organs of the living body. What is it connected with? Most likely due to the fact that the highest amount of energy production occurs in the liver per unit mass. Up to 20% of the mass of the entire liver cell is occupied by mitochondria, the "power stations of the cell", which continuously form ATP, which is distributed throughout the body.

All liver tissue is made up of lobules. The lobule is the structural and functional unit of the liver. The spaces between the liver cells are the bile ducts. A vein runs in the center of the lobule, and vessels and nerves run through the interlobular tissue.

The liver as an organ consists of two unequal large lobes: right and left. The right lobe of the liver is much larger than the left, which is why it is so easily palpable in the right hypochondrium. The right and left lobes of the liver are separated from above by a falciform ligament, on which the liver is, as it were, "suspended", and below the right and left lobes are separated by a deep transverse groove. In this deep transverse groove are the so-called gates of the liver, in this place the vessels and nerves enter the liver, the hepatic ducts that drain bile exit. Small hepatic ducts are gradually combined into one common. The common bile duct includes the duct of the gallbladder - a special reservoir in which bile accumulates. The common bile duct empties into the duodenum, almost in the same place where the pancreatic duct empties into it.

The circulation of the liver is not like that of other internal organs. Like all organs, the liver is supplied with arterial blood, oxygenated from the hepatic artery. Venous blood, poor in oxygen and rich in carbon dioxide, flows through it and flows into the portal vein. However, in addition to this, which is common to all organs of the blood circulation, the liver receives a large amount of blood flowing from the entire gastrointestinal tract. Everything that is absorbed in the stomach, duodenum, small and large intestines is collected in the large portal vein and flows into the liver.

The purpose of the portal vein is not to supply the liver with oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide, but to pass through the liver all the nutrients (and non-nutrients) that have been absorbed throughout the gastrointestinal tract. First, they pass through the portal vein through the liver, and then in the liver, having undergone certain changes, they are absorbed into the general circulation. The portal vein accounts for 80% of the blood received by the liver. The blood of the portal vein is mixed. It contains both arterial and venous blood flowing from the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, there are 2 capillary systems in the liver: the normal one, between the arteries and veins, and the capillary network of the portal vein, which is sometimes called the "miraculous network". The normal and capillary miraculous network are interconnected.

Sympathetic innervation

The liver is innervated from the solar plexus and branches of the vagus nerve (parasympathetic impulses).

Through the sympathetic fibers, the formation of urea is stimulated; impulses are transmitted through the parasympathetic nerves, which increase bile secretion, contributing to the accumulation of glycogen.

The liver is sometimes called the largest endocrine gland in the body, but this is not entirely true. The liver also performs endocrine excretory functions, and also takes part in digestion.

The breakdown products of all nutrients form, to a certain extent, a common reservoir of metabolism, which all passes through the liver. From this reservoir, the body, as needed, synthesizes the necessary substances and breaks down unnecessary ones.

carbohydrate metabolism

Glucose and other monosaccharides entering the liver are converted by it into glycogen. Glycogen is stored in the liver as a "sugar reserve". In addition to monosaccharides, lactic acid, breakdown products of proteins (amino acids), fats (triglycerides and fatty acids) also turn into glycogen. All these substances begin to turn into glycogen if there are not enough carbohydrates in the food.

As needed, when glucose is consumed, glycogen here in the liver is converted into glucose and enters the bloodstream. The content of glycogen in the liver, regardless of food intake, is subject to a certain rhythmic fluctuation during the day. The largest amount of glycogen is found in the liver at night, the smallest - during the day. This is due to the active consumption of energy during the day and the formation of glucose. Synthesis of glycogen from other carbohydrates and breakdown to glucose takes place both in the liver and in the muscles. However, the formation of glycogen from protein and fat is possible only in the liver, this process does not occur in the muscles.

Pyruvic acid and lactic, fatty acids and ketone bodies - what are called fatigue toxins - are utilized mainly in the liver and converted into glucose. In the body of a highly trained athlete, more than 50% of all lactic acid is converted into glucose in the liver.

Only in the liver does the "tricarboxylic acid cycle" occur, which is otherwise called the "Krebs cycle" after the English biochemist Krebs, who, by the way, is still alive. He owns the classic works on biochemistry, incl. and modern textbook.

Sugar gallostasis is necessary for the normal functioning of all systems and organs. Normally, the amount of carbohydrates in the blood is 80-120 mg% (i.e. mg per 100 ml of blood), and their fluctuations should not exceed 20-30 mg%. A significant decrease in the content of carbohydrates in the blood (hypoglycemia), as well as a persistent increase in their content (hyperglycemia) can lead to serious consequences for the body.

During the absorption of sugar from the intestine, the content of glucose in the blood of the portal vein can reach 400 mg%. The content of sugar in the blood of the hepatic vein and in the peripheral blood increases only slightly and rarely reaches 200 mg%. An increase in blood sugar immediately turns on the "regulators" built into the liver. Glucose is converted, on the one hand, into glycogen, which is accelerated, on the other hand, it is used for energy, and if there is an excess of glucose after that, then it turns into fat.

Recently, data have appeared on the ability to form an amino acid substitute from glucose, but the process is organic in the body and develops only in the body of highly qualified athletes. With a decrease in glucose levels (prolonged fasting, a large amount of physical activity), glycogen is split in the liver, and if this is not enough, amino acids and fats are converted into sugar, which are then converted into glycogen.

Glucose-regulatory function of the liver is supported by the mechanisms of neurohumoral regulation (regulation with the help of the nervous and endocrine systems). The content of sugar in the blood is increased by adrenaline, glucosen, thyroxine, glucocorticoids and diabetogenic factors of the pituitary gland. Under certain conditions, sex hormones have a stabilizing effect on sugar metabolism.

Blood sugar levels are lowered by insulin, which first enters the liver through the portal vein system and only from there into the general circulation. Normally, antagonistic endocrine factors are in a state of equilibrium. With hyperglycemia, the secretion of insulin increases, with hypoglycemia - adrenaline. Glucagon, a hormone secreted by the a-cells of the pancreas, has the ability to increase blood sugar.

The glucostatic function of the liver can also be subjected to direct nervous effects. The central nervous system can cause hyperglycemia both humorally and reflexively. Some experiments indicate that in the liver there is also a system of autonomous regulation of blood sugar levels.

Protein metabolism

The role of the liver in protein metabolism is the breakdown and "restructuring" of amino acids, the formation of chemically neutral urea from ammonia toxic to the body, and the synthesis of protein molecules. Amino acids, which are absorbed in the intestines and formed during the breakdown of tissue protein, constitute the body's "reservoir of amino acids", which can serve as both an energy source and a building material for protein synthesis. It was found by isotope methods that in the human body 80-100 g of protein is broken down and re-synthesized. Approximately half of this protein is transformed in the liver. The intensity of protein transformations in the liver can be judged by the fact that liver proteins are updated in about 7 (!) days. In other organs, this process takes at least 17 days. The liver contains the so-called "reserve protein", which goes to the needs of the body in the event that there is not enough protein from food. During a two-day fast, the liver loses approximately 20% of its protein, while the total protein loss of all other organs is only about 4%.

Transformation and synthesis of missing amino acids can only occur in the liver; even if the liver is removed by 80%, such a process as deamination is preserved. The formation of non-essential amino acids in the liver goes through the formation of glutamic and aspartic acids, which serve as an intermediate link.

An excess amount of one or another amino acid is reduced first to pyruvic acid, and then in the Krebs cycle to water and carbon dioxide with the formation of energy stored in the form of ATP.

In the process of deamination of amino acids - the removal of amino groups from them, a large amount of toxic ammonia is formed. The liver converts the ammonia into non-toxic urea (urea), which is then excreted by the kidneys. Urea synthesis occurs only in the liver and nowhere else.

The synthesis of blood plasma proteins - albumins and globulins occurs in the liver. If blood loss occurs, then with a healthy liver, the content of blood plasma proteins is very quickly restored; with a diseased liver, such recovery slows down significantly.

Fat metabolism

The liver can store much more fat than glycogen. The so-called "structural lipoid" - structural lipids of the liver phospholipids and cholesterol make up 10-16% of the dry matter of the liver. This number is fairly constant. In addition to structural lipids, the liver has inclusions of neutral fat, similar in composition to subcutaneous fat. The content of neutral fat in the liver is subject to significant fluctuations. In general, it can be said that the liver has a certain fat reserve, which, with a deficiency of neutral fat in the body, can be spent on energy needs. Fatty acids with energy deficiency can be well oxidized in the liver with the formation of energy stored in the form of ATP. In principle, fatty acids can be oxidized in any other internal organs, but the percentage will be as follows: 60% liver and 40% all other organs.

The bile secreted by the liver into the intestines emulsifies fats, and only in the composition of such an emulsion can fats be subsequently absorbed in the intestines.

Half of the cholesterol present in the body is synthesized in the liver, and only the other half is of food origin.

The mechanism of fatty acid oxidation by the liver was elucidated at the beginning of this century. It comes down to the so-called b-oxidation. Oxidation of fatty acids occurs to the 2nd carbon atom (b-atom). It turns out a shorter fatty acid and acetic acid, which then turns into acetoacetic. Acetoacetic acid is converted to acetone, and the new b-oxidized acid undergoes oxidation with great difficulty. Both acetone and b-oxidized acid are combined under the same name "ketone bodies".

To break down ketone bodies, a sufficiently large amount of energy is needed, and with a deficiency of glucose in the body (starvation, diabetes, prolonged aerobic exercise), a person may smell acetone from the mouth. Biochemists even have this expression: "fats burn in the fire of carbohydrates." For complete combustion, complete utilization of fats to water and carbon dioxide with the formation of a large amount of ATP, at least a small amount of glucose is needed. Otherwise, the process will stall at the stage of formation of ketone bodies, which shift the pH of the blood to the acid side, taking part in the formation of fatigue together with lactic acid. That is why they are called "fatigue toxins" for a reason.

Fat metabolism in the liver is influenced by hormones such as insulin, ACTH, pituitary diabetogenic factor, glucocorticoids. The action of insulin promotes the accumulation of fat in the liver. The action of ACTH, diabetogenic factor, glucocorticoids is directly opposite. One of the most important functions of the liver in fat metabolism is the formation of fat and sugar. Carbohydrates are a direct source of energy, and fats are the most important energy stores in the body. Therefore, with an excess of carbohydrates and, to a lesser extent, proteins, fat synthesis predominates, and with a lack of carbohydrates, gluconeogenesis (formation of glucose) from protein and fat dominates.

cholesterol metabolism

Cholesterol molecules make up the structural framework of all cell membranes without exception. Cell division without enough cholesterol is simply impossible. Bile acids are formed from cholesterol, i.e. basically bile. All steroid hormones are formed from cholesterol: glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, all sex hormones.

Synthesis of cholesterol, therefore, is genetically determined. Cholesterol can be synthesized in many organs, but it is most intensively synthesized in the liver. By the way, cholesterol is also broken down in the liver. Part of the cholesterol is excreted unchanged in the bile into the intestinal lumen, but most of the cholesterol - 75% is converted into bile acids. Bile acid formation is the main route of cholesterol catabolism in the liver. For comparison, let's say that only 3% of cholesterol is spent on all steroid hormones taken together. With bile acids in humans, 1-1.5 g of cholesterol is excreted per day. 1/5 of this amount is excreted from the intestine to the outside, and the rest is reabsorbed into the intestine and enters the liver.

vitamins

All fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K, etc.) are absorbed into the intestinal wall only in the presence of bile acids secreted by the liver. Some vitamins (A, B1, P, E, K, PP, etc.) are deposited by the liver. Many of them are involved in chemical reactions occurring in the liver (B1, B2, B5, B12, C, K, etc.). Some of the vitamins are activated in the liver, undergoing phosphorylation in it (B1, B2, B6, choline, etc.). Without phosphorus residues, these vitamins are completely inactive and often the normal vitamin balance in the body depends more on the normal state of the liver than on a sufficient intake of one or another vitamin in the body.

As you can see, both fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins can be deposited in the liver, only the time of deposition of fat-soluble vitamins, of course, is incommensurably longer than that of water-soluble ones.

Hormone exchange

The role of the liver in the metabolism of steroid hormones is not limited to the fact that it synthesizes cholesterol - the basis from which all steroid hormones are then formed. In the liver, all steroid hormones undergo inactivation, although they are not formed in the liver.

The breakdown of steroid hormones in the liver is an enzymatic process. Most of the steroid hormones are inactivated by combining in the liver with glucuronic fatty acid. In case of violation of liver function in the body, the content of hormones of the adrenal cortex increases first of all, which are not completely cleaved. This is where a lot of different diseases come from. Most of all, aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid hormone, accumulates in the body, the excess of which leads to sodium and water retention in the body. As a result, edema occurs, an increase in blood pressure, etc.

In the liver, to a large extent, inactivation of thyroid hormones, antidiuretic hormone, insulin, and sex hormones occurs. In some liver diseases, male sex hormones are not destroyed, but are converted into female ones. Especially often this disorder occurs after poisoning with methyl alcohol. By itself, an excess of androgens, caused by the introduction of a large amount of them from the outside, can lead to increased synthesis of female sex hormones. There is obviously a certain threshold for the content of androgens in the body, the excess of which leads to the conversion of androgens into female sex hormones. Although, recently there have been publications that some drugs can prevent the conversion of androgens into estrogens in the liver. Such drugs are called blockers.

In addition to the above hormones, the liver inactivates neurotransmitters (catecholamines, serotonin, histamine and many other substances). In some cases, even the development of mental illness is caused by the inability of the liver to inactivate certain neurotransmitters.

trace elements

The exchange of almost all trace elements directly depends on the work of the liver. The liver, for example, influences the absorption of iron from the intestines, it stores iron and ensures the constancy of its concentration in the blood. The liver is a depot of copper and zinc. It takes part in the exchange of manganese, molybdenum, cobalt and other trace elements.

bile formation

The bile produced by the liver, as we have already said, takes an active part in the digestion of fats. However, the matter is not limited to just their emulsification. Bile activates the fat-splitting enzyme lipose of pancreatic and intestinal juice. Bile also accelerates the intestinal absorption of fatty acids, carotene, vitamins P, E, K, cholesterol, amino acids, and calcium salts. Bile stimulates intestinal peristalsis.

During the day, the liver produces at least 1 liter of bile. Bile is a greenish-yellow liquid of slightly alkaline reaction. The main components of bile: bile salts, bile pigments, cholesterol, lecithin, fats, inorganic salts. Hepatic bile contains up to 98% water. By its osmotic pressure, bile is equal to blood plasma. From the liver, bile enters the hepatic duct through the intrahepatic bile ducts, from there it is directly excreted through the cystic duct into the gallbladder. This is where the concentration of bile occurs due to the absorption of water. The density of gallbladder bile is 1.026-1.095.

Some of the substances that make up bile are synthesized directly in the liver. The other part is formed outside the liver and, after a series of metabolic changes, is excreted in the bile into the intestine. Thus, bile is formed in two ways. Some of its components are filtered from the blood plasma (water, glucose, creatinine, potassium, sodium, chlorine), others are formed in the liver: bile acids, glucuronides, conjugated acids, etc.

The most important bile acids cholic and deoxycholic in combination with the amino acids glycine and taurine form paired bile acids - glycocholic and taurocholic.

The human liver produces 10-20 g of bile acids per day. Entering the intestine with bile, bile acids are broken down with the help of enzymes of intestinal bacteria, although most of them are reabsorbed by the intestinal walls and again end up in the liver.

With feces, only 2-3 g of bile acids are excreted, which, as a result of the decomposing action of intestinal bacteria, change the green color to brown and change the smell.

Thus, there is, as it were, a hepato-intestinal circulation of bile acids. If it is necessary to increase the excretion of bile acids from the body (for example, in order to remove large amounts of cholesterol from the body), then substances that irreversibly bind bile acids are taken, which do not allow the bile acids to be absorbed in the intestine and remove them from the body along with feces. The most effective in this regard are special ion-exchange resins (for example, cholestyramine), which, when taken orally, are able to bind a very large amount of bile and, accordingly, bile acids in the intestine. Previously, activated charcoal was used for this purpose.

They still use it, however. The ability to absorb bile acids and remove them from the body has the fiber of vegetables and fruits, but to an even greater extent pectin substances. The largest amount of pectin is found in berries and fruits, from which jelly can be prepared without the use of gelatin. First of all, it is red currant, then, according to the jelly-forming ability, it is followed by black currant, gooseberries, apples. It is noteworthy that baked apples contain several times more pectins than fresh ones. Fresh apples contain protopectins, which are converted into pectins when apples are baked. Baked apples are an indispensable attribute of all diets when you need to remove a large amount of bile from the body (atherosclerosis, liver disease, some poisoning, etc.).

Bile acids, among other things, can be formed from cholesterol. When eating meat food, the amount of bile acids increases, when fasting - decreases. Thanks to bile acids and their salts, bile performs its functions in the process of digestion and absorption.

Bile pigments (the main one is bilirubin) do not take part in digestion. Their excretion by the liver is a purely excretory excretory process.

Bilirubin is formed from the hemoglobin of destroyed red blood cells in the spleen and special liver cells (Kupffer cells). No wonder the spleen is called a graveyard of red blood cells. With regard to bilirubin, the main task of the liver is its excretion, and not formation, although a large part of it is formed in the liver. It is interesting that the breakdown of hemoglobin to bilirubin is carried out with the participation of vitamin C. There are many intermediate products between hemoglobin and bilirubin that are capable of mutual transformation into each other. Some of them are excreted in the urine, and some in the feces.

The formation of bile is regulated by the central nervous system through a variety of reflex influences. Bile secretion occurs continuously, intensifying during meals. Irritation of the sciatic nerve leads to a decrease in the production of bile, and irritation of the vagus nerve and histamines increase the production of bile.

Bile secretion, i.e. the flow of bile into the intestine occurs periodically as a result of the contraction of the gallbladder, depending on the intake of food and its composition.

Excretory (excretory) function

The excretory function of the liver is very closely related to bile formation, since the substances excreted by the liver are excreted through bile and, if only for this reason, they automatically become an integral part of bile. Such substances include the already described thyroid hormones, steroid compounds, cholesterol, copper and other trace elements, vitamins, porphyrin compounds (pigments), etc.

Substances excreted almost exclusively with bile are divided into two groups:

• Substances that are bound to proteins in the blood plasma (for example, hormones).
• Substances insoluble in water (cholesterol, steroid compounds).

One of the features of the excretory function of bile is that it is able to introduce substances from the body that cannot be removed from the body in any other way. There are few free compounds in the blood. Most of the same hormones are firmly connected to the transport proteins of the blood and, being firmly connected to the proteins, cannot overcome the renal filter. Such substances are excreted from the body along with bile. Another large group of substances that cannot be excreted in the urine are substances that are insoluble in water.

The role of the liver in this case comes down to the fact that it combines these substances with glucuronic acid and thus converts them into a water-soluble state, after which they are freely excreted through the kidneys.

There are other mechanisms that allow the liver to excrete water-insoluble compounds from the body.

Neutralizing function

The liver performs a protective role not only due to the neutralization and elimination of toxic compounds, but even due to the microbes that have entered it, which it destroys. Special liver cells (Kupffer cells) like amoebas capture foreign bacteria and digest them.

In the process of evolution, the liver has become an ideal organ for the disposal of toxic substances. If she can't turn a toxic substance into a completely non-toxic one, she makes it less toxic. We already know that toxic ammonia is converted in the liver to non-toxic urea (urea). Most often, the liver neutralizes toxic compounds due to the formation of paired compounds with glucuronic and sulfuric acids, glycine, taurine, cysteine, etc., thus neutralizing highly toxic phenols, neutralizing steroids and other substances. Oxidative and reduction processes, acetylation, methylation (which is why vitamins containing free methyl radicals-CH3 are so useful for the liver), hydrolysis, etc. play an important role in the neutralization. in turn, a sufficient content of glycogen in it and the presence of a sufficient amount of ATP are necessary.

blood clotting

In the liver, substances necessary for blood clotting are synthesized, components of the prothrombin complex (factors II, VII, IX, X) for the synthesis of which vitamin K is needed. Fibranogen (a protein necessary for blood clotting), factors V, XI, XII are also formed in the liver. , XIII. Strange as it may seem at first glance, in the liver there is a synthesis of elements of the anticoagulant system - heparin (a substance that prevents blood clotting), antithrombin (a substance that prevents the formation of blood clots), and antiplasmin. In embryos (embryos), the liver also serves as a hematopoietic organ, where red blood cells are formed. With the birth of a person, these functions are taken over by the bone marrow.

Redistribution of blood in the body

The liver, in addition to all its other functions, performs well the function of a blood depot in the body. In this regard, it can affect the blood circulation of the whole body. All intrahepatic arteries and veins have sphincters, which can change the blood flow in the liver in a very wide range. The average blood flow in the liver is 23 ml/ks/min. Normally, almost 75 small vessels of the liver are turned off by sphincters from the general circulation. With an increase in total blood pressure, the vessels of the liver expand and the hepatic blood flow increases several times. Conversely, a drop in blood pressure leads to vasoconstriction in the liver and hepatic blood flow decreases.

A change in body position is also accompanied by changes in hepatic blood flow. So, for example, in a standing position, the blood flow to the liver is 40% lower than in a prone position.

Norepinephrine and sympathetic increase the resistance of the liver vessels, which reduces the amount of blood flowing through the liver. The vagus nerve, on the contrary, reduces the resistance of the liver vessels, which increases the amount of blood flowing through the liver.

The liver is very sensitive to lack of oxygen. Under conditions of hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the tissues), vasodilating substances are formed in the liver, which reduce the sensitivity of capillaries to adrenaline and increase hepatic blood flow. With prolonged aerobic work (running, swimming, rowing, etc.), the increase in hepatic blood flow can reach such an extent that the liver greatly increases in volume and begins to put pressure on its outer capsule, richly supplied with nerve endings. The result is liver pain that is familiar to every runner, and indeed to all those involved in aerobic sports.

Age changes

The functionality of the human liver is highest in early childhood and decreases very slowly with age.

The mass of the liver of a newborn child averages 130-135 g. The mass of the liver reaches its maximum between the ages of 30-40 years, and then gradually decreases, especially between 70-80 years, and in men the mass of the liver falls more than in women. The regenerative capacity of the liver in old age is somewhat reduced. At a young age, after removal of the liver by 70% (wounds, injuries, etc.), the liver restores the lost tissue by 113% (with excess) in a few weeks. Such a high ability to regenerate is not inherent in any other organ and is even used to treat severe chronic liver diseases. So, for example, in some patients with cirrhosis of the liver, it is partially removed and it grows back, but new, healthy tissue grows. With age, the liver is no longer fully restored. In old faces, it grows only by 91% (which, in principle, is also quite a lot).

The synthesis of albumins and globulins falls in old age. The synthesis of albumins predominantly falls. However, this does not lead to any disturbances in the nutrition of tissues and a drop in oncotic blood pressure, because. with old age, the intensity of decay and consumption of proteins in plasma by other tissues decreases. Thus, the liver, even in old age, provides the body's needs for the synthesis of plasma proteins. The ability of the liver to deposit glycogen is also different in different age periods. Glycogen capacity reaches a maximum by the age of three months, persists for life, and only slightly decreases in old age. Fat metabolism in the liver reaches its usual level also at a very early age and only slightly decreases in old age.

At different stages of development of the body, the liver produces different amounts of bile, but always covers the needs of the body. The composition of bile throughout life changes somewhat. So, if a newborn child in the hepatic bile contains about 11 mg-eq / l of bile acids, then by the age of four this amount decreases by almost 3 times, and by the age of 12 it rises again and reaches approximately 8 mg-eq / l.

The rate of emptying of the gallbladder, according to some reports, is the smallest in young people, and in children and the elderly it is much higher.

In general, according to all its indicators, the liver is a low-aging organ. It regularly serves a person throughout his life.

Healthy people rarely think about where the liver is located. However, it is desirable to know the location of this largest gland of the human body. Having even general information about the localization of the liver, its functions and structure, one can pay attention in time to changes in the functioning of the organ, which can sometimes be quite dangerous for health.

The structure of the liver

Liver- a large gland or otherwise a parenchymal organ. It is found in all mammals, including humans. The term "parenchymal" means that there is no cavity inside the gland, that is, it is relatively dense.

The peculiarity of the anatomy of the liver primarily lies in the special structure of its cells and in the presence of its own blood circulation system. Outwardly, the iron looks like an elongated formation with a rounded and sharp end. Inside there is a functional tissue (parenchyma), that is, cells that ensure the functioning of the liver, and from the inside there is a stroma or otherwise a capsule.

Due to the stroma, iron retains its shape.

Parenchyma cells are hepatocytes, their individual clusters form lobules. Conventionally, iron is usually divided into two unequal-sized shares:

1. Right (large). Approximately 6 times larger than the left. It also includes separately allocated square and caudate lobes.
2. Left.

The lobes are demarcated by the falciform ligament. Separate segments are also distinguished in the structure of the liver, which is associated with the peculiarities of the blood supply.

Iron receives nutrients from the portal vein, it, passing through the gate of the liver, is divided into three smaller blood vessels. This ensures, first of all, the convenience of blood delivery, since each artery approaches a specific area of ​​the gland. That is why the lateral, posterior, anterior and medial segments are distinguished.

The weight of the gland is about one and a half kilograms in an adult. In newborns, its mass is even greater and reaches 1/20 of the total weight.

Organ localization

Is the liver on the right or left? Almost the entire part of the organ is located in the right hypochondrium.

• In an adult, the edge of the gland should normally not extend beyond the ribs by more than 1 cm.
• In children, it acts a little more and up to 7 years this is considered the norm.

It is also necessary to know where the liver is located in a person due to the fact that the surface of the gland is adjacent to other equally important organs. From above, it is adjacent to the concave diaphragm, due to which the gland in this place is convex. From below it comes into contact with the organs of the abdominal cavity.

The liver can somewhat change its shape and size depending on the fullness of the intestine, this is considered normal.

In pathological processes, iron increases, which negatively affects the functioning of the lungs, heart, intestines, and stomach.

The liver is a multifunctional organ that performs about 500 different functions. The most basic of them are:

• Detox. The barrier function of the liver is to neutralize toxic compounds, allergens, and poisons in the body. Passing through the gland, these harmful substances become less dangerous or are broken down into elements that are easily removed from the digestive system.
• Neutralization followed by removal of excess vitamins, hormones, metabolic intermediates (acetone compounds, ketone bodies, ammonia, ethanol).
• Energy supply for the needs of the body. The functions of the liver in the human body are to replenish glucose and glycogen stores.
• Normalization of carbohydrate metabolism.
• secretion of good cholesterol.
• Production and accumulation of bile. The function of bile accumulation in the liver cells is performed by the Golgi apparatus. By structure, it is a microscopic organelle in which bile matures and then is excreted into the gallbladder.
• Metabolism of a number of vitamins and folic acid.
• Synthesis of a number of hormonal substances.
• Production of some immune cells.

The function of the fetal liver is also in hematopoiesis. During fetal development, iron is secreted into the main plasma proteins.

In addition, the body has blood reserves that are released into the circulatory system during massive blood loss.

Possible liver disease

Knowledge of the scheme of the structure of the liver, and on which side it is located, is not an indicator of the timely detection of inflammatory and infectious diseases of the gland. This is due to the fact that there are no nerve endings in the parenchyma of the organ, so pain most often appears when the capsule is involved in the pathological process.

However, other symptoms may indicate liver dysfunction.

• Changes in the work of the gland lead to dysfunction of the digestive organs, which is expressed by the appearance of nausea, dyspeptic disorders, weakness, headaches.
• Running pathological processes in the liver lead to pain, loss of appetite, yellowness of the sclera and skin. In this case, the size of the gland almost always increases.

Liver disease occurs for a variety of reasons. This can be damage to the body by viruses and bacteria, injury, poisoning with toxic substances and alcohol. Determination of the pathology-provoking factor allows you to choose the most effective treatment regimen.

Features of the course of liver diseases depend on whether they are primary or secondary. The first group includes pathologies that cover only the tissues of the gland, its vessels and bile ducts. Secondary diseases are diseases of other organs that cause disturbances in the functioning of the liver.

Common liver pathologies include:

1. Hepatitis. In most cases, it has a viral nature of origin. Type A virus is transmitted through water and food, C and B through sexual contact and blood. With the development of hepatitis, cytolysis occurs - the destruction of hepatocytes. Other causes of hepatitis can also be toxic damage to the gland with poisons, deterioration of the blood supply to one of the segments (ischemic hepatitis).
2. Hepatosis. At the heart of the occurrence of the disease is a violation of metabolic processes, as a result of which fat accumulates in the parenchyma. As a result, the normal functioning of the organ is disrupted, a large amount of free radicals accumulate in the gland and severe inflammation occurs. Hepatosis can cause necrosis (death) of the liver tissues, in place of which connective tissue is gradually formed. And this leads to serious malfunctions in the functioning of the gland and adversely affects the work of the whole organism. Fatty hepatosis is diagnosed to some extent in more than half of overweight people. The alcoholic form of the disease is more common in men. Fatty degeneration of the liver is also possible during pregnancy. The disease is successfully treated with timely initiation of therapy.
3. Cirrhosis. May be the result of viral hepatitis, chronic alcohol intoxication, hepatosis. Cirrhosis often leads to bleeding from the hepatic vessels, thrombosis, peritonitis. This pathology is considered irreversible, but liver function can be maintained for a long time using medications and diet therapy.
4. Neoplasms of the liver. They are divided into benign and malignant. The first include gland cysts, hemangiomas. Liver cancer is more common in people over 50 years of age. Malignant processes can be either primary (atypical cells develop immediately in the liver tissues) or secondary, that is, the outcome of cancer metastasis with a different localization.
5. Cholangitis- inflammation of the common bile duct. May provoke subsequent inflammation of the human gallbladder.
6. Rupture of the liver. Occurs with abdominal trauma.

What drug therapy the doctor will prescribe depends on the form of liver disease, the degree of dysfunction of the gland, and comorbidities.

Lack of treatment at the initial stage of infectious and inflammatory processes leads to the fact that some of the hepatocytes die, respectively, the gland partially loses its functionality.

The progression of liver pathologies negatively affects the functioning of the digestive organs, can cause diseases of the kidneys, heart, or aggravate their course. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of changes in the functioning of the gland, you should go to the doctor and undergo the examination prescribed by him.

Prevention of liver diseases

In most cases, it is not difficult to prevent violations in the functioning of the liver. Measures to prevent pathologies of the gland include:

• Rational, healthy food. The diet should be more vegetable and dairy foods, cereals, seafood, lean fish and meat. The consumption of fried foods, smoked meats, marinades, hot sauces, carbonated drinks, and fresh pastries should be minimized.
• Minimum consumption of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol in small doses is useful, but this applies only to high-quality wines, which should be consumed no more than 2 times a week, 100-150 ml each.
• Compliance with the regime of work and rest. Often, disturbances in the functioning of liver cells are provoked by excessive physical effort and stressful situations, reducing the load on the body also reduces the likelihood of developing gland pathologies;
• Daily physical activity. Hypodynamia leads to stagnation, due to which the physiological cleansing of the liver worsens.
• Refusal of uncontrolled medication. It is impossible to drink antibiotics, painkillers and other medicines without special indications, since their metabolism occurs precisely in the liver parenchyma.
• Barrier contraception during sex with casual partners. Condoms significantly reduce the risk of developing viral hepatitis.
• Normalization of body weight. Obesity often leads to fatty degeneration of the liver, so when extra pounds appear, you should think about weight loss.
• Compliance with protective measures when working in hazardous industries.
• Timely treatment of diseases of the endocrine system, digestive disorders, chronic foci of infection.

Deterioration in the work of the liver negatively affects not only the functioning of internal systems, but can also negatively affect the appearance. An imbalance in the work of the body leads to the appearance of acne and irritation on the skin, causes dryness and brittle hair, and can provoke allergic rashes.