Liver

Liver

The largest organ in the body, weighing between 1200 and 1500 g in a healthy adult.

Hepatocytes

Cells that make up 80% of the liver's volume and primarily secrete bile.

Hepatic laminae

Complex formations of hepatocytes arranged in plates one cell thick.

Hepatic sinusoids

Low pressure vascular channels that receive blood from the hepatic artery and portal vein.

Bile canaliculi

Small ducts that collect bile produced by hepatocytes.

Ito cells

Hepatic stellate lipocytes that store fat and become activated in liver fibrosis.

Kupffer cells

Stellate reticuloendothelial cells that destroy old blood cells and foreign matter in the blood.

Plasma protein synthesis

A primary function of the liver, including the production of albumin.

Detoxification

The liver's role in metabolizing drugs and toxins, such as ammonia.

Homeostasis

The liver's function in maintaining normal blood glucose levels.

Acute liver disease

A condition characterized by symptoms occurring within the previous six months, often self-limiting.

Chronic liver disease

A condition where symptoms persist for longer than six months, leading to permanent liver damage.

Early symptoms of liver disease

Fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Serious symptoms of liver disease

Pruritis, jaundice, and bruising as the disease progresses.