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100 functions of the liver...

  • 07-10-2009 6:48am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭


    When I was at uni, we were told that we would be exposed to roughly 100 functions of the liver over the course of our degree.

    I can think of about 6. So, I figured we should start a list.

    I'll get the ball rolling with

    1) production of clotting factors.

    Can we get to 100??


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 2,814 ✭✭✭Vorsprung


    100!?

    2) Production of bile


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,117 ✭✭✭Gazza22


    3) Production of serum albumin

    (oh and nice split guys, looks good ;))


  • Registered Users Posts: 17,398 ✭✭✭✭r3nu4l


    4) Conversion of glucose to glycogen
    5) Storage of glycogen

    (In theory I suppose this is one function but since we're looking for 100, let's clutch at straws :D)


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭lorebringer


    6) Deamination of protein


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,814 ✭✭✭Vorsprung


    r3nu4l wrote: »
    4) Conversion of glucose to glycogen
    5) Storage of glycogen

    (In theory I suppose this is one function but since we're looking for 100, let's clutch at straws :D)

    Ah not really, doesn't muscle and renal tissue store glycogen too?

    6) Produces urea


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  • Registered Users Posts: 17,398 ✭✭✭✭r3nu4l


    Vorsprung wrote: »
    Ah not really, doesn't muscle and renal tissue store glycogen too?
    But that doesn't really matter does it? We're not talking unique functions of the liver here, just functions of the liver and those are legitimate functions, I just broke them into two to help us reach 100 :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    The glycogen thing is relatively specific to the liver, as it's mostly just stored in brain, skeletal tissue, kidney and liver.

    But the liver is the where the action is, and it converts glucose to glycogen that can enter the bloodstream, as opposed to just being for local use, which is unique I think.
    But we need 100 so let's roll with it :P

    8) temperature regulation.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,758 ✭✭✭Jessibelle


    9) synthesizes angiotensinogen
    10) Drug metabolism (I think ???)


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭DrIndy


    toxin metabolism


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,845 ✭✭✭2Scoops


    11). Serviceable meal when combined with fava beans and a nice chianti.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 697 ✭✭✭biomed32


    12. cholesterol synthesis
    13. lipogenesis
    14. red blood cell generation in fetus
    15. production of insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1

    thats all i got for now


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,758 ✭✭✭Jessibelle


    2Scoops wrote: »
    11). Serviceable meal when combined with fava beans and a nice chianti.

    I laughed :)
    biomed32 wrote: »
    i believe that was point 14.

    Ah yes, my mistake :o

    16) Converts the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) into it more active form triiodothyronine (T3).


  • Registered Users Posts: 697 ✭✭✭biomed32


    Jessibelle wrote: »
    I laughed :)

    16) Produces red blood cells in the fetus during the first trimester

    i believe that was point 15.

    17. storage of the fat soluable vitamins A,D,E,K


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 291 ✭✭liberal


    18 synthesis of Protein C (a natural anticoagulant)
    19 break down of thrombin complexed with a variety of things
    20 production of thrombopoetin

    I've been studying haemostasis :cool:


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,440 ✭✭✭✭Piste


    Does it break down/store iron or something?



    (gotta make sure before I stick 21 in front of it)


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,758 ✭✭✭Jessibelle


    Piste wrote: »
    Does it break down/store iron or something?



    (gotta make sure before I stick 21 in front of it)

    It stores iron alright and if there's an overabundance of iron it can add to the damage caused by hepatitis C. Too much iron can be a problem during interferon treatment as well, I think??
    HTH :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,857 ✭✭✭✭Dave!


    Last-resort self-defense weapon
    Good conversation piece
    Paper weight


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 4,665 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tree


    brain switched off tonight, so vague functions will be held back until i can give further clarification when it becomes engaged...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,656 ✭✭✭norrie rugger


    Bilirubin production?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭Nebit


    21) nutralises chyme.:D


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,345 ✭✭✭Somnus


    22) Regulates cholesterol levels
    23) Has ability to regenerate itself like some sort of unstoppable mutant


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 4,665 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tree


    keeps me warm (provides body heat throuhg it's high level of metabolism)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    tallaght01 wrote: »

    8) temperature regulation.
    Tree wrote: »
    28) keeps me warm (provides body heat throuhg it's high level of metabolism)

    :P


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    I've edited the numbers in posts, as they were out of sync and some duplicates.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    24) Production of Hepcidin.

    25) Norrirugger's point can be changed to conjugation of bilirubin and become 25


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,656 ✭✭✭norrie rugger


    tallaght01 wrote: »
    24) Production of Hepcidin.

    25) Norrirugger's point can be changed to conjugation of bilirubin and become 25


    Might be a good idea to keep the full list in your original post, so people can read it and avoid duplicating


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 4,665 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tree


    Might be a good idea to keep the full list in your original post, so people can read it and avoid duplicating
    liver list wrote:
    1) production of clotting factors.
    2) Production of bile
    3) Production of serum albumin
    4) Conversion of glucose to glycogen
    5) Storage of glycogen
    6) Deamination of protein
    6) Produces urea
    8) temperature regulation.
    9) synthesizes angiotensinogen
    10) Drug metabolism (I think ???)
    11). Serviceable meal when combined with fava beans and a nice chianti.
    12. cholesterol synthesis
    13. lipogenesis
    14. red blood cell generation in fetus
    15. production of insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1
    16) Converts the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) into it more active form triiodothyronine (T3).
    17. storage of the fat soluable vitamins A,D,E,K
    18 synthesis of Protein C (a natural anticoagulant)
    19 break down of thrombin complexed with a variety of things
    20 production of thrombopoetin
    21) nutralises chyme.
    22) Regulates cholesterol levels
    23) Has ability to regenerate itself like some sort of unstoppable mutant
    24) Production of Hepcidin.
    25) Norrirugger's point can be changed to conjugation of bilirubin and become 25

    this is my contribution, rather than any individual points....

    (i still think keeping trees warm and general metabolism are slightly different enough to count) /me sulks


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    Tree wrote: »

    (i still think keeping trees warm and general metabolism are slightly different enough to count) /me sulks

    But the temp regulation is from it's metabolic rate.

    Plus "general metabolism" would use up about 40 of it's functions :P


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 4,665 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tree


    *sniff*

    1) production of clotting factors.
    2) Production of bile
    3) Production of serum albumin
    4) Conversion of glucose to glycogen
    5) Storage of glycogen
    6) Deamination of protein
    6) Produces urea
    8) temperature regulation.
    9) synthesizes angiotensinogen
    10) Drug metabolism (I think ???)
    11). Serviceable meal when combined with fava beans and a nice chianti.
    12. cholesterol synthesis
    13. lipogenesis
    14. red blood cell generation in fetus
    15. production of insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1
    16) Converts the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) into it more active form triiodothyronine (T3).
    17. storage of the fat soluable vitamins A,D,E,K
    18 synthesis of Protein C (a natural anticoagulant)
    19 break down of thrombin complexed with a variety of things
    20 production of thrombopoetin
    21) nutralises chyme.
    22) Regulates cholesterol levels
    23) Has ability to regenerate itself like some sort of unstoppable mutant
    24) Production of Hepcidin.
    25) Norrirugger's point can be changed to conjugation of bilirubin and become 25
    26)hydroxylation of vitamin D (/me wanders off to add the same to the kidney list...)


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  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,537 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    de-Racemization of some drugs - it's cheaper to make the racemic mixture.
    converts paracetamol into N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine. Not so good as it leads to liver failure.
    regenerates itself


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