The functions of liver are:
(i) Production of Bile: The liver secretes bile (hepatic bile pH 8.6). The bile is stored in the gall bladder (gall bladder bile pH 7.6). About 500-1,000 ml of bile is secreted by liver in a day. Bile salts (sodium bicarbonate, sodium glycocholate sodium laurocholate) help in the digestion o fats in the small intestine by bringing about their emulsification.
(ii) Deamination: It is a process by which the amino group (-NH2) is removed from the amino acids resulting in the production of ammonia which is converted into urea.
(iii) Excretion:
(a) Liver synthesizes urea with the help of ammonia and carbon dioxide. Urea is passed out through excretory system.
(b) The bile contains bile pigments (bilirubin-yellow and biliverdin - green) that are excretory products.
(c) The liver cells also eliminate certain other waste products like cholesterol, metal ions and waste products of haemoglobin.
(iv) Glycogenesis : It is the conversion of glycogen into glucose by the liver cells with the help of insulin secreted by the pancreas.
(v) Glycogenolysis : It is the conversion of glycogen into glucose by the liver cells with the help of glucogen secreted by the pancreas.
(vi) Lipogenesis : It is the conversion of excess of glucose and amino acids into fats which also takes place in the liver.
(vii) Gluconeogenesis: It is the formation of glucose or glycogen from non-carbohydrate sources such as amino acids, fatty acids, glycerol, etc. It also occurs in the kidneys and striped muscles.
(viii) Detoxification: Liver converts toxic substances into harmless substances, e.g., harmful prussic acid, formed during metabolism in all body cells, is neutralized and rendered harmless by liver cells.
(ix) Haemopoiesis: The process of formation of blood corpuscles is called haemopoiesis. The liver produces red blood corpuscles in the embryo.
(x) Synthesis of blood protein : The liver produces blood protein such as prothrombin and fibrinogen that help in the clotting of blood.
