Understanding:
• The liver intercepts blood from the gut to regulate nutrient levels
The liver is a lobed organ located below the diaphragm that functions to regulate the chemical composition of blood
- It receives oxygenated blood via the hepatic artery, which is used to sustain liver cells (hepatocytes)
- It also receives nutrient rich blood from the gut via the portal vein
- Deoxygenated blood is transported from the liver via the hepatic vein
The liver functions to process the nutrients absorbed from the gut and hence regulates the body’s metabolic processes
- It is responsible for the storage and controlled release of key nutrients (e.g. glycogen, cholesterol, triglycerides)
- It is responsible for the detoxification of potentially harmful ingested substances (e.g. amino acids, medications, alcohol)
- It produces plasma proteins that function to maintain sustainable osmotic conditions within the bloodstream
- It is responsible for the breakdown of red blood cells and the production of bile salts
Overview of Hepatic Circulation
