The gland which stores glycogen and helps in detoxification is liver.
1. Liver:
- Liver is dark reddish-brown coloured largest gland of the body, weighing 1.2 to 1.5 kg, in adults.
- Situated in right upper portion of the abdominal cavity, below the diaphragm. Divided into 2 lobes, right and left.
- A thin connective tissue sheath called Glisson’s capsule covers the liver and invaginates inside to divide the liver into cord like structures called hepatic lobules which are functional units of liver containing hepatic cells (hepatocytes).
- Each hepatic lobule is polygonal in shape. At the junction of adjacent lobules, a triangular portal area is present.
- In this portal area a branch of each of hepatic artery, hepatic portal vein and bile duct are present. Lobule consist of cords of hepatic cells which are arranged around a central vein.
- In between the cords of hepatic cells, spaces called sinusoids are present through which the blood flows. In the sinusoids, phagocytic cells called Kupffer cells are present.
- Hepatic cells secrete bile. Bile is carried by hepatic ducts in a thin muscular sac called gall bladder.
- The duct of the gall bladder and hepatic duct together form common bile duct.
- Liver synthesizes vitamins A, D, K and B12 , blood proteins.
2. Kupffer cells of liver destroy toxic substances, dead and worn-out blood cells and microorganisms.
3. Bile juice secreted by liver emulsifies fats and makes food alkaline.
4. Liver stores excess of glucose in the form of glycogen.
5. Deamination of excess amino acids to ammonia and its further conversion to urea takes place in liver.
6. Synthesis of vitamins A, D, K and B takes place in liver.
7. It also produces blood proteins like prothrombin and fibrinogen.
8. During early development, it acts as haemopoietic organ.
Therefore, liver is a vital organ.
