Question

What does liver do to a)hormones b)alcohol c)vitamin a

(2 mark)

Answer 1

(a) [Role of the liver in hormone metabolism and in the regulation of their content in the blood]. ... An inflow of an increased amount of hormones damages liver functions, then elimination of the hormone excess decreased or does not occur, and their level in the blood increases further.

(b) liver is a robust organ and can usually cope with drinking a small amount of alcohol. However the liver can only handle a certain amount of alcohol at any given time, so if you drink more than the liver can deal with by drinking too quickly, or drinking too much, your liver cells struggle to process it.

When alcohol reaches the liver, it produces a toxic enzyme called acetaldehyde which can damage liver cells and cause permanent scarring, as well as harm to the brain and stomach lining.

(c) The liver manufactures a quart of bile daily. The bile is excreted from the liver cells into the bile ducts which empty into the small intestines. Bile emulsifies fats so they can be absorbed from the intestines. This enables the absorption of fat soluble vitamins from the gut into the blood stream. The fat soluble vitamins A, D , E and K and are needed for strong healthy bones, healthy blood vessels and to prevent cancer. Bile carries away waste products from the liver and these are eliminated via the faeces