The
Liver - A Vital Organ
The liver is the largest organ in the body and plays a vital role in
regulating life processes. Located behind the lower ribs on the right
side of the abdomen the liver weighs about 1.4kgs and is roughly the
size and shape of a small football.
Functions of the Liver
This vital organ performs many complex functions. Some of these are:
1. Conversion of food into the chemicals necessary for
life and growth
2. The manufacture and export of important substances
used by the rest of the body
3. Processing of drugs absorbed from the digestive
tract into forms that are easier for the body to use
4. The detoxification and excretion of substances that
otherwise would be poisonous to the body. The liver converts these
toxins into substances that can be easily eliminated from the body.
