Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Features of Liver
Liver carries out many features within the physique. They’re primarily carried out by the hepatocytes (liver cells). It’s stated to be accountable for about 500 completely different features. These features are carried out by the liver in coordination with different techniques and organs. About 20% of resting complete physique oxygen consumption is because of the liver.
The liver performs a significant function within the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids and lipids.
Carbohydrate metabolismÂ
–    Glycogenesis – The liver synthesizes and shops the glycogen by way of glycogenesis. Glycogenesis is a course of wherein glycogen is shaped from glucose.
–    Glycogenolysis – The liver breaks down the identical glycogen into glucose and releases it into the blood by performing glycogenolysis as and when the physique wants glucose.
–    Gluconeogenesis – The liver takes half within the synthesis of glucose from some sorts of amino acids, lactate or glycerol. Fats is damaged down by liver cells and adipose and glycerol is produced. This glycerol is utilized by the liver for gluconeogenesis.
–    Gluconeogenesis – This can be a course of wherein the liver synthesizes glycogen from lactic acid.
Protein metabolismÂ
All – protein metabolism, synthesis and degradation are carried out by the liver. The liver is accountable for synthesizing all of the plasma proteins besides gamma-globulins and a big a part of amino acid synthesis. It additionally produces clotting components and purple blood cells. Thrombopoietin which regulates the manufacturing of platelets by the bone marrow is produced majorly within the liver.
Lipid Metabolism
Liver is concerned within the ldl cholesterol synthesis, lipogenesis and triglyceride manufacturing. Main elements of the physique’s lipoproteins are synthesized within the liver.
Digestion of meals
Liver additionally performs a primary function within the technique of digestion of meals. It produces and excretes bile. Bile is required for emulsifying the fat and likewise helps in absorption of vitamin Okay from the food regimen. Some a part of the bile is drained straight into the primary a part of the small gut i.e. duodenum and a few a part of it’s saved within the gallbladder.
Different features of the liver
Progress issue
Insulin like development issue 1 is a hormone which performs an essential function in childhood development. It’s also produced within the liver. This issue continues to have its anabolic results even in adults.
Liver is reservoir of blood
It’s a storehouse / reservoir of blood. Liver shops massive portions of blood in its blood vessels since it’s an expandable organ. Roughly 10% of the physique’s complete blood quantity is discovered within the hepatic veins and hepatic sinuses. The liver expands because of the backpressure brought about because of excessive strain in the appropriate atrium of the center and half to at least one litre of additional blood is sometimes saved within the hepatic veins and sinuses. This occurs in cardiac failure with peripheral congestion. Based on Wikipedia the liver is a big and expandable venous organ. It acts as a blood reservoir in occasions of extra blood quantity. It additionally provides further blood when the blood quantity is diminished.Â
Drug metabolism
It’s concerned in drug metabolism whereby it breaks down or modifies poisonous substances and most medicinal merchandise.
Urea cycle
It converts ammonia into urea (urea cycle) and that urea is excreted in urine.
Lymph manufacturing
Roughly half of all of the lymph which is shaped within the physique underneath resting situations arises within the liver. This occurs because of excessive permeability of the liver sinusoid epithelium.
Shops essential elements
Liver permits storage of vitamin A, D, B12, Okay and E and likewise copper, iron, zinc, cobalt and molybdenum.Â
Haemopoietic organ
Liver is a haemopoietic organ. It kinds RBC and WBC within the embryonic stage. It kinds RBC within the fetus within the first trimester.
Blood air purifier
It purifies the blood. The Kupffer cells are concerned in phagocytosis of lifeless blood cells and micro organism from the blood.
Immunological results
The mononuclear phagocyte system current within the liver contains many immunologically lively cells. It acts as a sieve for antigens and therefore is accountable for immunological results.
Produces albumin
Albumin, the protein within the blood serum, is produced by the liver. It maintains oncotic strain and permits transport of steroid hormones and fatty acids.
Liver helps in
–    It breaks down insulin and different hormones.
–    It breaks down bilirubin and facilitates its excretion into bile.
–    It breaks down and excretes many waste merchandise.
–    Hydrogen peroxide is damaged down into water and oxygen by the catalase enzyme produced by the liver. Hydrogen peroxide is a poisonous oxidizing agent.
Synthesizes angiotensinogen
Angiotensinogen, a hormone which raises the blood strain as a response to the activation by renin, is synthesized by the liver. Renin is an enzyme which is launched by the kidney when it senses low blood strain.
Liver Regeneration
The specialty of the liver is that it’s the solely human inside organ which has the capability to regenerate its misplaced tissues. An entire liver will be regenerated from as little as 25% of liver. Bot being a real regeneration, it’s only a compensatory development in mammals. No matter lobes have been eliminated won’t regrow. The expansion of liver will not be that of its unique type however is a restoration of operate.
Physiology of Liver – Ayurveda Perspective
In Ayurveda, the liver is named Yakrit.
On the stage of Raktadhara Kala i.e. the membranes or layers of liver (and spleen) which participate within the formation of blood cells in good high quality and amount.
Being a Raktashaya, together with spleen, the liver acts as a reservoir of blood.
Being part of the roots of raktavaha srotas – the channels of conveyance of blood within the physique, the liver together with spleen is accountable for distribution of blood to the blood conveying channels.
Being an abode / seat of Ranjaka Pitta, the liver, together with spleen takes half within the motion of ‘rasa ranjana’ i.e. colouring the rasa tissue coming into them into purple color and remodeling it into rakta – blood tissue. It additionally imparts color to the faeces and urine.
Associated Studying – Yakrit Kriya Shareera – Physiology of Liver, Ayurveda Perspective
