Liver

Liver rests under the right rib cage and is the largest internal organ. Blood from the intestines flows into the liver carrying nutrients and other materials. Liver cells called hepatocytes sort through everything, keeping useful nutrients, changing some chemicals, and sending waste out for removal.

One of the liver's main jobs is to store energy. When there is extra glucose in the blood, the liver turns it into glycogen for later. When we need fuel between meals, the liver changes glycogen back to glucose and shares it with the bloodstream. The liver also makes most blood proteins, including those that help stop bleeding.

The liver produces bile, a greenish liquid that breaks up fats. Bile travels through ducts to the gallbladder for storage or straight to the small intestine. After bile helps digest lunch, it returns to the liver to be reused. Without bile, absorbing vitamins A, D, E, and K would be hard.

Another job is detoxification. The liver filters alcohol, medicines, and natural waste products so they do not build up. Special immune cells called Kupffer cells patrol the sinusoids, catching bacteria that sneak in from the gut.

The liver can regrow after injury, but it still needs protection. Balanced meals, vaccines against hepatitis, regular exercise, and avoiding too much alcohol keep liver tissue healthy. Doctors check liver enzymes in blood tests, use ultrasound to view the surface, or take a tiny biopsy sample if they suspect disease.