The liver
Liver · hepar
Your largest internal organ, a chemical factory that processes nutrients, clears toxins and makes bile.
What it does
The liver sits under the right ribs, just below the diaphragm. It receives blood rich in nutrients straight from the gut, stores sugar and vitamins, builds proteins such as clotting factors, breaks down alcohol and drugs, and produces bile to help digest fats.
Surprising fact
The liver can regrow: if part of it is removed, the rest can grow back to near its original size within weeks.
Why it matters
Because it can regrow, a living person can donate part of their liver. It is also why the liver can recover from much damage if the cause, such as heavy drinking, is removed in time.
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Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.