Liver Metabolism and Storage

Liver: Biochemical Roles and Storage

• Glycogen Storage: In muscle and liver, glycogen is stored.

• Glucose Regulation:

  • Insulin lowers or balances blood glucose levels.
  • Glucagon increases blood sugar when it decreases.

Protein Metabolism in the Liver

• The liver plays a vital role in protein metabolism.
  • Deamination: Excess amino acids are deaminated in the liver, producing urea.

Bile Production and Storage

• Bile Composition: Bile consists of bile pigments and bile salts.

• Gallbladder: Bile is stored in the gallbladder and released into the bile duct.

• Emulsification: Bile aids in the emulsification of lipid products.

Storage and Metabolic Roles of the Liver

• Glucose Metabolism:

  • Glucose is converted to glycogen for storage.
  • Glycogen is broken down into glucose.

• Nutrient Absorption:

  • The liver absorbs digested food components, including glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, glycerol, vitamins, and mineral salts, from the hepatic portal vein.

• Storage:

  • The liver stores vitamins and mineral salts.

• Fibrinogen Production:

  • The liver produces fibrinogen.

• Urea Formation and Excretion:

  • Urea, produced from deamination of amino acids, is transported to the kidneys.
  • The kidneys excrete urea through urine, via the ureter.

• Circulatory System Integration:

  • The hepatic vein connects the liver to the major circulatory system.
  • The liver distributes nutrients to body cells through the bloodstream.

Diagram Summary - Figure Description

The diagram illustrates the storage and metabolic roles of the liver, including:

• Bile Production and Storage with a connection to the Gall Bladder.
• Hepatic Portal Vein carrying absorbed nutrients.
• Conversion of Glucose to Glycogen.
• Deamination into urea.
• Storage of Vitamin and Mineral salts
• Production of Fibrinogen
• Connection to the Major circulatory system via the Hepatic Vein
• Emulsification of Lipid products and absorption of digested food.
• Elimination of Urea in the Kidneys
• Distribution of nutrients to the body cells