🧠 How the Human Liver Works: A Deep Dive into the Body’s Most Hardworking Organ
By DScience News | Health & Science | Updated: August 2025
The human liver — also known as the hepat or jigar in Hindi — is one of the most vital and multi-functional organs in our body. Tucked safely under the right rib cage, this dark reddish-brown organ weighs about 1.5 kilograms and performs over 500 essential biochemical functions — more than any other organ in the human body.
In this article, we’ll explore how the liver functions, its regenerative abilities, and why protecting it is crucial for our survival.
🔬 What Is the Liver and Where Is It Located?
The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body. It sits in the upper right part of the abdomen, just beneath the diaphragm and behind the ribs. Made up of specialized cells called hepatocytes, the liver plays a central role in almost every metabolic process in the body.
Key Facts:
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Location: Upper right abdomen
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Weight: Around 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs)
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Color: Dark brown or reddish
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Made of: Hepatic (liver) cells
♻️ The Liver’s Superpower: Regeneration
One of the most fascinating features of the liver is its ability to regenerate. Even if up to 75% of the liver is damaged or surgically removed, it can regrow itself over time.
This regenerative capacity is what makes liver transplants and partial donations possible. No other organ in the body has this level of natural repair ability.
💉 Function 1: Detoxification of the Blood
The liver’s most important job is filtering toxins from the blood.
When we consume alcohol, drugs, or any harmful substances, they enter the bloodstream. The liver acts as a natural filter, neutralizing and eliminating toxins to prevent damage to other organs.
Did you know? Nearly 13% of our blood is always present in the liver at any given time.
However, excessive consumption of harmful substances can overwhelm the liver, causing cell damage. While it can regenerate, prolonged abuse can lead to permanent conditions like liver cirrhosis or hepatitis.
🧪 Function 2: Producing Bile for Digestion
The liver also produces a digestive fluid called bile, which helps in the breakdown and absorption of fats in the small intestine. The bile is stored in a small organ called the gallbladder, located just beneath the liver.
Whenever we eat fatty foods, the liver releases bile through bile ducts into the intestine to help in digestion.
🍞 Function 3: Converting Carbohydrates into Fat and Energy
When we eat food rich in carbohydrates, the liver converts the excess glucose into glycogen, a form of stored energy. When needed (e.g., fasting or not eating for long periods), the liver converts glycogen back into glucose to maintain energy levels in the body.
If glycogen stores are depleted, the liver starts breaking down fat and proteins to make more glucose — similar to a battery providing backup power.
🧬 Function 4: Blood Production During Fetal Development
In adults, blood is produced in the bone marrow, but during early pregnancy, a developing fetus relies on the liver to produce blood cells.
This shows how essential the liver is — not just after birth, but from the very beginning of life.
🧠 Other Vital Roles of the Liver
Beyond detox and digestion, the liver is responsible for:
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Regulating blood sugar levels
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Producing proteins and hormones essential for body function
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Maintaining cholesterol balance
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Supporting the digestive system
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Helping with immune response
⚠️ What Damages the Liver?
While the liver is resilient, it is not invincible.
Excessive intake of:
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Alcohol
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Drugs
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High-fat foods
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Toxic substances
...can cause long-term damage. Common liver diseases include:
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Fatty liver disease
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Hepatitis A, B, and C
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Cirrhosis
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Liver cancer
🛡️ How to Keep Your Liver Healthy
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Eat a balanced diet
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Avoid excess alcohol
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Get regular exercise
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Stay hydrated
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Avoid self-medication or overuse of painkillers
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Go for regular liver check-ups if you’re at risk
📽️ Want to See the Liver in Action?
We’ve created a 3D animation video that shows how your liver works in real time — from filtering blood to producing bile and managing energy.
📺 Watch now on our YouTube Channel
🔗 [Video Link in Description Below]
🔚 Conclusion
The liver is more than just a detox organ — it's the engine of your body, managing nutrients, fighting infections, and storing energy. Respect it, fuel it right, and it will keep you alive and thriving for a long time.
Stay informed. Stay healthy.
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