Role and function of the liver – the liver is the most important organ of metabolism.
In carbohydrate metabolism, its tasks are maintaining normal blood sugar levels, breaking down glycogen (glycogenolysis), synthesising glucose from non-carbohydrate sources during prolonged fasting, synthesising glycogen (glycogenesis), and converting fructose and galactose into glucose.
In protein metabolism, it is involved in producing plasma proteins and blood clotting factors, in urea synthesis, in amino acid metabolism and in producing vitamin K-dependent factors.
The liveralso plays a wide-ranging role in fat metabolism. Its tasks include fatty acid synthesis and breakdown, cholesterol synthesis and excretion, lipoprotein synthesis and ketogenesis.
It also plays an essential role in the metabolism of hormones and vitamins, the breakdown of toxic substances, immune functions, iron and copper metabolism and bilirubin metabolism.
