The Liver

A Project By Ylei Gachupin

Introduction
The human body is a group of organs working together to create a perfect system. One of those organs is the liver. The liver is mostly important for three main reasons. The vital functions, how it fights infections, and how food is brought to the cells.

Vital functions
Here are some vital functions, even though there are more than 500 different functions that the liver performs. y y y y y y y Processing digested food to the intestine. Making bile Breaking food down and turning it into energy Cleaning blood of like infections-creating bacteria. Destroying drugs Storing vitamins and iron Making proteins that circle around the blood.

Fighting Infections
Your liver fights infections. It fights them by moving a combination of parts from of the body s defense, called the macrophage system. The liver has more than half of the body s supply of macrophages, also known as kuppfer cells, which destroy all bacteria that comes close.

Bile
In case you were wondering, bile is a bitter-tasting dark green or yellowish brown fluid.

Illness Symptoms
Swelling of the abdomen, ankles, and feet happens because the liver doesn t make albumin. Bruising and bleeding are other characteristics of liver disease. The liver makes a mixture that helps stop bleeding.

Digested Food
When you eat, your body has to break down food into smaller pieces so that chemicals in the digestive system tract. The salivary glands, pancreas, and liver add

digestive materials. Food is carried to the cells in their smallest form, and it is processed through the liver.

Conclusion
Obviously, the liver is underestimated by many people. The liver doesn t only fight infections, but can provide food for the cells, and can transform food into energy. The liver isn t only important, but essential to a healthy life.

Bibliography
I Books: a. The Incredible Machine 384pp. The National Geographic Society Washington D.C 1987 b. The Complete Human Body 512pp. DK Publishing New York 2010 II Websites a. www.britishlivertrust.org.uk A Brief Summary of the Liver s Functions British Liver Trust b. en.wikipedia.org Disease Symptoms Wikipedia c. www.livestrong.com Food Digestion and the Liver Live Strong