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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