The Liver Is the Largest Internal Organ in the Body - Assignment Example

The liver remains the most active organ in the body, performing over 500 metabolic functions.  The rate of blood flow is 1.5 liters per min. it possesses diverse cells such as 70-80% hepatocytes, sinusoidal epithelial cells, kupffer cells, and hepatic stellate cells. The essay seeks to dig out the anatomy, physiology, and the relationship between the liver and other organs in the body.

Roles of the liver in the body

The liver plays a key role in the digestion process through the production of bile. The cells responsible for bile production are the hepatocytes. Food containing fats stimulates the duodenum to secrete cholecystokinin, which in turn stimulates the gall bladder to release bile. Bile emulsifies fats for the ease of the digestion process (Mitra & Metcalf 2009). Additionally, the Kupffer cells are involved chiefly in breaking down all the worn-out red blood cells. Furthermore, it stores iron after the erythrocytes are broken down (Campbell 2006).

The metabolic function of the liver encompasses breaking down carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids into useful body materials (Vainer et al. 2008). Carbohydrates are broken down into monosaccharides, fatty acids metabolized to produce ATP, while proteins break down into amino acids. The detoxification process involves the removal of dangerous components inclusion of drugs and the rest of the inactive metabolites. Moreover, the liver has a high potential for the storage of essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. It also produces vital body proteins such as pro-thrombin, albumins, and fibrinogen. Most significantly, it acts as an organ contributing to the immune system via sinusoids containing Kupffer cells, a form of macrophages, and phagocytic. The Kupfer cells capture and auto-digest fungi, bacteria, worn-out cells, and other debris (Thomson et al. 2002).

Organs associated with the Liver

The stomach receives and stores food as they await digestion. It initiates the protein digestion process and propels food down to pass through the duodenum. The gastric secretions initiate the digestion process, while pepsin commences protein digestion.  The duodenum acts as the exit point for bile production in the gastrointestinal system. As an exocrine organ, the pancreas produces pancreatic juice. It aids in the further digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The gall bladder is pear-shaped, and its location is just on the inferior section of the liver. It acts as a bile storage depot and releases it upon stimulation by cholecystokinin.

Cells in the liver

The liver does contain hepatocytes, kupffer, endothelial, and Ito cells. The hepatocytes are specialized in diverse functions including the production and secretion of bile, storage of glycogen glucose, synthesis of urea, metabolism of fats and cholesterol, plasma proteins synthesis, detoxification, and synthesis of hormones. They possess immense mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi bodies, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, and nuclei (Yin et al. 2013). Their arrangement occurs in the form of cords, with each hepatocyte closely attached to the next one. Leaving the space of Disse for communication purposes. Kupffer cells act as macrophages, with their location in the liver sinusoids. They are differentiated into monocytes- with their phagocytic and liposomal properties. They flush put all the bacterial components in the blood system (Kung & Forbes 2009). They are also vital in removing all the worn-out erythrocytes and reusing hemoglobin. Ito cells are significant in storing fat and vitamin A. Cell differentiation remains vital as each cell is deemed to perform its function for the sake of promoting the overall live functioning patterns.

Liver tissues

The connective tissue acts as a lining to the cells and extends all through the liver parts. They form a connective tissue tree with the basic unit as septae. The connective tissue does act as a connection providing generous support to all the cells. It also lines up the blood vessels, bile ducts, and lymphatic vessels that crisscross the liver. The parenchymal units divide the live into units called lobules (Abdel-Misih & Bloomston 2010). The hepatic lobule remains the basic structural unit of the liver. With that, the critical architectural components of the liver are maintained in a constant proportion and angle. However, in pathological situations, the normal architectural liver system undergoes disruption, due to the extra fibro collagenous tissues, which results in compromised liver functioning (Si-Tayeb et al. 2010). The tissue is known for its tough nature, hence acts to protect the liver from injury, especially in moments of assault. It also acts as a cushion to absorb any trauma.

The epithelial tissue in the liver occurs in the lining, where it serves diverse functions such as protection of the organ and cells, infiltration, and secretion of the bile juice.  The liver forms an exocrine gland that does release products into the digestive system. The specialized epithelial cells are located in the inner part of the gall bladder. They are consistently producing bile, whose release is at a controlled rate by hormones and nervous influences. There is no branching of the ducts (Crispe 2009). The gall bladder is in the form of a sac, with a lining of simple columnar cells. The inner surface is composed of mucosa. The epithelial cells in the gall bladder have microvilli, similar to those in the small intestines. Below the epithelium is the lamina propria. The wall lacks sub mucosa or muscularis mucosae. Epithelial tissue remains avascular, as it does not receive direct blood supply from the blood vessels (Michalopoulos 2007).