What Is The Different Functions Performed By A Liver?

The liver plays vital and important role in the functioning of the body.
1.Production of bile: The liver plays an important part in the digestion of the fats by secreting bile, which is stored temporarily in the gall bladder before use.
2.Regulation of blood glucose concentration: The liver keeps the amount of glucose in blood constant. Blood normally consists about 70-90 mg glucose/100 cm3 of blood. After a heavy meal the glucose content in the blood rises. As the blood passes through the liver the excess glucose is converted to insoluble glycogen and stored. The blood leaving the liver contains a fairly constant amount of glucose.
3.Deamination of amino acids: Excess amino acids are brought to the liver where their amino groups are removed, and converted to urea. The remains of the deaminated amino acids are converted into glucose in the liver.
4.Iron storage: The worn out red blood cells are nucleated and are destroyed in the spleen and their haemoglobin is brought to the liver. The liver breaks the haemoglobin and stores the iron released in the process.
5.Detoxication: Harmful substances are broken down by the liver e.g. alcohol.
6.Heat production: Heat that is produced by the chemical reactions in the liver, maintaining the body temperature.