Thursday, 30 April 2020
Outline and explain the various homeostatic functions of the liver in mammals
Deamination; process of removal of an amino group from an amino acid
molecule; the process gets rid of excess amino acids in the body; as the body
is not able to store them; the amino group enters the ornithine cycle; where it
is combined with carbon (IV) oxide to form urea; which is excreted
in urine through the kidney; Heat production; many metabolic activities take
place in the liver; releasing heat energy; that is distributed by the blood to
other parts of the body; this helps in thermoregulation; Storage of vitamins
and mineral salts; Vitamins A, B, D, E and K; are stored in the liver; worn-out
red blood cells, are broken down to yield iron; which is stored in the liver in
form of ferritin; this is used later in case of shortage; Formation of red
blood cells; occurs in the liver of the foetus; the liver also breaks down
old/exhausted red blood cells; leading to formation of more in the bone marrow
to replace the worn-out cells; to enhance oxygen and carbon (IV) oxide
distribution; Regulation of blood sugar level; liver cells convert excess
glucose into glycogen and fats under the influence of insulin hormone; the
stored glycogen is however converted back to glucose; when glucose levels are
low; by the liver cells; under the influence of glucagon hormone; Regulation of
plasma proteins; plasma proteins such as prothrombin and fibrinogen are
manufactured in the liver using the amino acids found in the liver; they play a
major role in blood clotting; that prevents excessive blood loss and infection
at the injured area; other plasma proteins produced by the liver such as serum
and albumen; contribute to the maintenance of osmotic pressure in the body;
non-essential amino acids are also synthesized by the liver; for use by the
body; Storage of blood; the liver is highly vascularised; hence it is capable
of holding a large volume of blood when the blood vessels dilate during hot
conditions; when the temperatures are low, the blood vessels constrict under
the influence of the endocrine and nervous systems; hence less blood is stored
in the liver; this contributes to thermoregulation; Detoxification; this is the
process where harmful compounds such as drugs and poisons; are converted to
less toxic compounds in the liver; toxicity is caused by medication, drugs and
microorganisms; the toxic compounds are later excreted in urine; detoxification
prevents the accumulation of toxins in body cells; which could lead to death or
malfunctioning of the body cells;
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