Functions of the Liver Video

Video at a Glance

• The liver has three main functions. It processes nutrients, synthesizes various substances, and plays a role in the body’s protection and clearance.
• The liver processes carbohydrates and mediates the balance between glycogenesis and gluconeogenesis, processes proteins and breaks down amino acids into functional proteins or pre-hormones, and processes lipids and breaks them down into triglycerides and cholesterols.
• The liver synthesizes some of the body’s coagulation factors, albumin, transport/binding proteins, such as apoferritin and transferrin, immunologic proteins, and bile salts.
• The liver protects from enteric bacteria, breaks down toxins via oxidization, cleaves proteins, and produces antioxidants such as glutathione.