livers role in digestion and pancreas

liver def

vital for digestion of food (accessory organ)

works with pancreas and gallbladder

largest abdominal organ

stores substances vital to sustaining life

regenerates itself

bodys chemical unit for processing of product of digestion

works through chemical process using enzymes to break things apart (chemical reactions)

how many chemical reactions

controls 500+ chemical reactions and manufactures

how much does it weigh

3.9lbs in men and 2.8lb in women

how much blood does it filter

2l (2000ml) of blood/min (removing toxins and waste products from bloodstream)

how much bile produced

produces 800- 1000ml (1l) of bile each day= helps break fats down in small intestine

what does it store

stores important vitamins and minerals (iron and copper) and releases them when needed causing a metallic taste/ smell

what does it produce

cholestrol and helps remove excess cholestrol from body

what does it play a role in

plays role in immune system by removing bacteria and other harmful substances

3 overall roles

breaks down toxic susbstances

process and stores nutrients

breaks down- secretes bile

lipase

breaks up fats

double delivery of blood to the liver

hepatic artery delivers blood from th eheart

hepatic portal vein brings it from intestines and fills it with nutrients

protease

breaks up proteins

pancreatic amylase

breaks up starch

hormones

Chemical messengers made by glands= travel in the blood to control body functions (like growth, metabolism, blood sugar, etc.).

insulin and glucagon are hormones made by pancreas

insulin

Lowers blood sugar by helping cells take in glucose

glucagon

Raises blood sugar by telling the liver to release stored glucose.

pancreas 2 jobs

secretes enzymes into small intestine to help break down lipids, proteins, carbs

makes insulin: the main thing responsible for metabolizing sugar

liver and pancreas when blood glucose levels rise

blood glucose levels rise, insulin released, tells liver to shut down sugar production and signals sugar to move into cells and liver for storage, blood levels go back to normal

liver and pancreas when blood glucose levels are low

blood glucose levels are low, glucagon is released, signals to release sugar from liver and cells, blood levels go back to normal

what happens if pancreas stops working

diabetes

diabetes

type 1 diabetes: insulin is not released in the body

type 2 diabetes: insulin is no longer recognized by the body and can no longer do its job