Work of the Liver

 The liver is the largest organ in the body. It receives blood carrying nutrients from the gut via the hepatic portal vein. It also receives oxygenated blood from the hepatic artery. The hepatic vein carries blood away from the liver.

       The liver regulates the amount of glucose and amino acids that are present in the blood. Excess glucose present in the blood from the gut is converter to glycogen and stored in the liver and the muscles. When the glucose level in the blood falls below the required amount, the liver converts some of the glycogen to glucose. These processes are controlled by hormones.

     The liver also releases only the required amount of amino acids into the blood. The body cannot store amino acids. The liver breaks down or deaminates the excess amino acids in the blood from the gut. The nitrogen containing parts of the amino acids are converted to urea and excreted in the urine; the remaining parts are changed to glucose, glycogen or fats.