The liver's roles in metabolism: bile, deamination, detoxification, glycogen storage and warming the blood.
A central organ of metabolism
The liver is the body's chemical factory. The 4HB1 spec asks you to know its main functions and how it links to digestion, excretion and homeostasis.
| Function | What happens |
|---|---|
| Bile production | Makes bile (stored in the gall bladder) to emulsify fats |
| Deamination | Removes the amino group from excess amino acids → forms urea |
| Detoxification | Breaks down toxins, including alcohol and old red blood cells |
| Glucose/glycogen | Stores excess glucose as glycogen (under insulin); releases it (under glucagon) |
| Warming the blood | Many reactions release heat, helping keep body temperature ~37 °C |
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