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MusclesWhat does the liver do?
The liver works as if it were a factory and a cleaning station at the same time. It cleans your blood, saves energy for later, makes a liquid that helps digest fat and produces things your body needs, like the ones that stop bleeding when you get hurt.
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Questions people ask
Where is the liver?
On the right side of the belly, just under the diaphragm and protected by the lower ribs. The left lobe reaches across to the middle of the body, above the stomach.
Can the liver grow back?
Yes. It is the only internal organ that can grow back after losing a part: even after more than half is removed, what remains grows back within weeks. But repeated damage, such as heavy drinking, can leave scars (cirrhosis).
What does the gallbladder do?
It stores the bile the liver makes and releases it into the intestine when we eat fat. If it is removed, bile flows straight from the liver to the intestine, and the person lives normally.
How does the liver clean the blood?
Blood from the intestine arrives through the portal vein and flows slowly past the liver cells. They pick out and transform toxic substances, medicines and alcohol, which then leave through bile or urine.
How much does the liver weigh?
In an adult, about 1.5 kg (3.3 lb). It is the largest internal organ in the body.
Sources
This text was written using these references:
- Digestive System · National Cancer Institute (SEER Training)
This content has not been medically reviewed.