Liver

Anatomy Abdomen

Human_Hepar

Stages of liver damage

The liver is a vital organ located in the abdomen and plays a pivotal role in numerous physiological processes. It is integral to digestion, nutrient distribution, and many other essential bodily functions.

Anatomy and Functions

Situated in the abdominal cavity, the liver is one of the largest organs in the human body. It serves many critical biological functions, including:

• Digestion: The liver produces bile, a greenish fluid responsible for breaking down fats in the small intestine during digestion.
• Nutrient Processing: After digestion, nutrients absorbed by the intestines enter the liver, which then processes these nutrients into forms easier for the rest of the body to use.
• Detoxification: The liver detoxifies harmful substances ingested such as drugs or alcohol, rendering them less toxic to the body.
• Storage: The liver stores essential vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, D, K, and B12, and releases them when the body needs them.
• Metabolism Regulation: It plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels, converting excess glucose into glycogen for storage.

Liver Diseases and Conditions

The liver, due to its multifaceted roles, is susceptible to a variety of diseases and conditions. Some of these ailments include:

• Hepatitis: An inflammatory condition of the liver often caused by viral infections. There are several types of hepatitis, characterized by different viruses (e.g., hepatitis A, B, C).
• Alcoholic Liver Disease: Resulting from excessive consumption of alcohol over prolonged periods, it encompasses a spectrum of conditions, from fatty liver to cirrhosis.
• Drug-induced Liver Injury: Some medications or drugs can cause liver damage, leading to inflammation and reduced liver function.
• Cirrhosis: A late-stage liver disease, cirrhosis is caused by chronic liver damage, leading to the formation of scar tissue which replaces healthy tissue, hampering the liver's ability to function.
• Liver Cancer: Primary malignancies originating in the liver tissues.

One notable symptom indicative of liver issues is jaundice. This condition manifests as a yellowing of the skin and eyes and results from the liver's inability to process bilirubin, a yellow compound formed during the breakdown of red blood cells.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosing liver disease often involves a combination of blood tests, imaging studies, and occasionally, liver biopsies. Specific tests might include liver function tests, ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI of the liver.

Treatment options vary depending on the specific liver condition. They may range from lifestyle modifications, medications, to more advanced interventions like liver transplantation in cases of end-stage liver diseases.

Glossary of Liver Terms

This glossary serves as a comprehensive guide to terms associated with the liver and its related diseases, conditions, and treatments.

• Alagille syndrome: A genetic disorder affecting the liver, heart, and other parts of the body. It's characterized by fewer than normal bile ducts inside the liver, leading to liver damage.

• Autoimmune hepatitis: A disease in which the body's immune system attacks liver cells, causing inflammation and liver damage.

• Biliary atresia: A rare disease of the liver and bile ducts that occurs in infants, leading to liver cirrhosis and liver failure.

• Cirrhosis: A chronic liver disease resulting from prolonged liver damage where healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, affecting the liver’s ability to function.

• ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography): A procedure to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas.

• Hemochromatosis: A genetic disorder causing the body to absorb too much iron from the diet, leading to iron overload in organs including the liver.

• Hepatitis A: A viral liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus, usually spread through ingestion of contaminated food or water.

• Hepatitis B: A viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause acute and chronic disease, transmitted through contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids.

• Hepatitis C: A viral infection causing liver inflammation, often leading to serious liver damage. Transmitted through contaminated blood.

• Hepatitis D: A serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis D virus and is spread through contact with infected blood. It only occurs in conjunction with hepatitis B infection.

• Hepatitis E: A liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus, transmitted mainly through contaminated drinking water.

• Hepatitis (Viral): A general term for inflammation of the liver caused by viral infection. This includes hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.

• Liver transplant: A surgical procedure to replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver from a donor.

• Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease or NASH (Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis): A condition where fat builds up in the liver, causing inflammation and potential liver damage.

• Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and NASH in Children: The pediatric occurrence of NASH, where children experience fat buildup in the liver.

• Porphyria: A group of rare genetic disorders resulting from a buildup of chemicals called porphyrins, affecting the skin or nervous system.

• Primary Biliary Cholangitis or Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: A chronic liver disease where bile ducts in the liver become damaged, leading to a buildup of bile, which can damage the liver.

• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A disease of the bile ducts, causing inflammation and scarring which can lead to liver damage.

• Wilson disease: A rare inherited disorder causing copper to accumulate in the liver, brain, and other vital organs.

• Digestive system: The system by which food and drink are broken down into smaller parts so the body can use them to build and nourish cells and provide energy.

See Also

• Digestive System
• Hepatitis

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