Talk:Liver/Archive 1

Microanatomy

This article could use a section on the microanatomy/histology of the liver. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.91.98.31 (talk) 03:30, 22 June 2008 (UTC)

Questions

(moved from article)

• How many Hepatocytes are in 1 cm³ of normal human liver?
• which animals have liver ? (mammals ? vertebrates ?)
• in which animals it is located "on the top right side of the abdomen" ?
• Does the liver have anything related to sex?

---Yes, depending on what you mean by "sex". The liver metabolizes sex hormones. This is one reason why an alcoholic may get gynecomastia in the advanced stages of liver disease. Their liver fails to break down estrogens causing them to develop breasts. Look it up! ---BlauNacht

This is related to humans I suppose (standing upright). --MathisHeydtmann

• Fish have livers, so it's at least not just mammals. -- Someone else 00:08, 8 Nov 2003 (UTC)
• I seem to recall that Lobsters have an organ named a liver. And they are invertebrates.

I think the second question is the reason terms like 'ventral' and 'dorsal' exist.... -- BenBaker

Quoting BenBaker: "I think the second question is the reason terms like 'ventral' and 'dorsal' exist...." Lol totally, what does top right side mean, it could be anywhere!?! And why would you ask if the liver is related to sex?? Is that all you think about?? :-P--Ang1987

I think that a reference to liver function tests (LFTs) should be made in the function section. Perhaps just a mention and a link to this other wiki page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver_function_tests. Tracy Bunting-Early

I always believed that the legal drinking age of 21 in the US was something arbitrary until a Pediatrician that I know told me that it had to do with the development of the liver, i.e. that the liver was not fully mature until around that age. Can anyone verify this fact about the development of the liver? I know the brain is still developing through the 20's so it would not be unheard of. --BlauNacht

Gland or organ

Why does this article refer to the Liver as a 'gland', rather than an 'organ', which nomeclature is more common?

I am not completely sure but I think both terms are correct. Liver can be regarded as gastrointestinal gland because it secretes bile into the GI tract. With later understanding however it is much more than just that so organ seems to be more appriopriate. (unsigned)

Both terms are correct, though organ is more common in my experience. --David Iberri (talk) 03:49, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

To my knowledge, an organ should contain more than one kind of cells, if not, it is only at 'tissue' level.--Nedsnow (talk) 14:28, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

What size is the liver?

Eating liver

is there any harm in eating the liver of animals ex: pate. because of all the toxins filtered through the organ

Good question. I have heard it is rich in cholesterol and at one point in time it was adviced to limit the intake of liver, at least in media. What is more certain is that the liver in polar bears is so rich in one of the vitamins that it is dangerous to eat. Vitamin A 67.113.3.148 03:10, 5 May 2005 (UTC)

Same for polar animals in general. Nasty account here of Douglas Mawson and Xavier Mertz being poisoned (the later fatally) by husky liver. Fish livers have high levels too: I can't find the source at the moment, but I recall reading an account of some anglers getting sick from eating the liver of a big river fish they'd caught. RayGirvan 11:38, 4 Jun 2005 (UTC)

The liver is not a filter in the sense it accumulates chemicals. It removes toxins by converting them into harmless chemicals. GangofOne 02:31, 4 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Or it tries to. Paradoxically, it's a major factor in carcinogenesis that for many chemicals, the liver metabolites are more carcinogenic than the original. [1] RayGirvan 12:08, 4 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Unique in its regenerative capacity?

It is unique as the only human organ capable of natural regeneration of lost tissue.

What about the skin? it is an organ. it regenerates naturally.

Right; I've changed this to:

The liver is one of the only internal human organs capable of natural regeneration...

--David Iberri (talk) 03:37, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

livers as food, what levels?

Levels can be toxic, particularly in polar animals; the Antarctic explorers Douglas Mawson and Xavier Mertz were both poisoned, the latter fatally, from eating husky liver.

Levels of what? ✈ James C. 01:09, 2005 Jun 12 (UTC)

Vitamin A see above a few lines.GangofOne 03:53, 12 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Why, if B vitamins are not fat soluble and hence not stored in the liver is it such a good source of some of them?

Hepatitis

I need a question answered about hep three. Can a woman get hep 3 from sexual intercourse? LJ

There is no hepatitis three. As for hepatitis C, the risk is regarded as low. JFW | T@lk 01:15, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

Liver protection

your liver protects you from all drugs and acholoh. when you have to much you get liver disease because your liver can't take filtering it out anymore.

That's a fairly simplistic view of this interesting organ, but you are correct that overdoing it with the booze is unwise from a hepatic point of view. JFW | T@lk 20:58, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

Also, I think the "liver as filter" analogy is highly misleading. A much better analogy is warehouse and chemical manufacturing/processing plant. Your kidneys are your filters! Bob Kerns 06:19, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

Acetaminophen Toxicity

I think it's worth adding somewhere, probably the diseases section, that in the US, over 50% of cases of acute liver failure are due to acetaminophen toxicity. See, for example, acute liver failure: Results of a United States multicenter, prospective study. Bob Kerns 06:19, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

Largest organ?

Might be a dumb question, but... It says it's the second largest organ after the skin. But what about the intestines? They are several metres long. Or does "large" here imply weight? 14:59, 25 January 2006 (UTC)

The liver qualifies as second largest by dry weight. Volumetrically, the intestines are comparable (or even bigger) but they have the advantage of being air-filled. Alex.tan 23:59, 27 January 2006 (UTC)

I resent the term 'advantage' as it is inherently non NPOV.  :) Ikkyu2 09:16, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

"air filled"? Speak for yourself, farty. --Mongreilf 13:10, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Is 3 kg Really a normal liver weight. My Physiology book says 1,2-1,5 kg so I think it's not a statisically normal size. --Eribro 19:14, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

It could be someone putting kg instead of lb by accident - my anatomy book says 1.4 kg or 3lb is average. Emiwee 21:35, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

I have to take serious issue with the statement that the liver is the size of an "American Football." Does the author realize how big a regulation size NFL football is?? Certainly too big to fit in my rib cage. --Cordof3 (talk) 15:46, 15 May 2008 (UTC) cordof3

Function

Any chance that someone could add a "Function" section stating specifically what the Livers purpose is. I must say that I am still not 100% sure on all its functions; just creating bile and detox of the blood stream? If you go to Kidney, Gallbladderor Pancreas they all have that.

Thanks -- UKPhoenix79 02:52, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

Main Function of Liver

The major function of the liver is to metabolise nutrients . Nutrient synthesis, detoxification, excretion and secretion(bile) is also the role of the liver t is the largest gland becuse it receives 25% cardiac output this is because of its many blood vessels. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Scottydog (talk • contribs) 5:49, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm not sure if metabolising nutrients is the major function. It also synthetises most of blood's protein content. JFW | T@lk 16:18, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

um...protein synthesis is involved in cellular metabolism so both are correct and I think you mean catabolizing ("breaking down") nutrients; metabolism is the process of "putting together". Pay more attention in Cell Biology! lol just kidding! :-P--Ang1987 —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 205.206.124.225 (talk) 19:47, 2 February 2007 (UTC).

Well if someone knows if they could create a Function section like those in Kidney, Gallbladder or Pancreas that would be great. I would do it but I am still unsure of all its functions. -- UKPhoenix79 02:10, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

Regulating glucose levels (through storage and release and creating new glucose from protein and glycerol) is one of its major functions. Two of the three main glucose-regulating hormones made by the pancreas act on the liver -- insulin and glucagon. Adrenaline/noradrenaline and cortisol also act on the liver to modulate glucose levels. It plays a major role in diabetes. It also serves as storehouse for iron, produces lipids for use by the rest of the body (e.g. cholesterol). "detoxification" is not really a good description. Sometimes it toxifies. It performs a wide variety of critical chemical processes, sometimes turning things into active compounds, and sometimes breaking them down for elimination. Bob Kerns 06:30, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

It's nuts that there's no mention of CYP450, which is the group of enzymes responsible for most of the chemical factory aspects, such as drug metabolism. Bob Kerns 06:39, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

There is no reference to the liver and its reaction to drugs/medications. ON the Phage therapy WIKI they make a reference to this. Medications can stress the liver. User:ace_ofgabriel 167.7.19.254 (talk) 15:12, 20 June 2008 (UTC)

"both animal and fish"

Fish are animals too. Is that supposed to be "both mammal and fish"? a thing 02:25, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

Bicentennial liver?

It is said the liver does not age or grow old, unlike the rest of human body. Is that myth?

Article

I views this article, and it seemed that this article could learn something from it. --Striver 23:01, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

• Fixed the link, but it doesn't strike me as particularly informative. -- John Owens | (talk) 00:33, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Overdosing on Liver?

"three 100-gram servings of beef liver" is stated as enough to overdose alongside other examples of far less reasonable quantities of butter and eggs. it seems not that much, especially with the (implied) lethal consequences of overdose. a typo? or should i cut down on the 12oz liver steaks?--Mongreilf 13:08, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

Location of liver

Would it be good to have a diagram showing the actual location of the liver in the body?--Light current 15:33, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

As long as you don't use words like "top right" lol!

Artery/Vein

Since the portal vein and the hepatic artery carry blood in the same direction, shouldn't they both be arteies, even though the blood doesn't come straigt from the heart? It's of course a vein to the digestive system, but to the liver it should be identified as an artery. 82.182.64.61 16:26, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

I agree. Both the portal vein and hepatic artery are afferent vessels for the liver. The portal vein also contains more oxygen than typical veins and contributes to delivering oxygen to the liver. 155.37.215.39 (talk) 18:31, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

Inferior/superior views in pictures?

I'm not sure enough about which way is considered superior here, but I think the recently added Gray's anatomy plates of the liver have the superior and inferior surface captions mixed up. Could someone who does know for sure fix this, or reassure me that they're correct as they are? -- John Owens | (talk) 00:38, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

You are correct. The original captions are visible at the external links here. The captions are now fixed. --Arcadian 00:48, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Liver Regeneration Time

Does anyone have the information as to how long it takes for the liver to regenerate post operation? For both the recipient and the donor. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 128.119.127.212 (talk) 04:06, 7 February 2007 (UTC).

Anti-Vandalism Efforts

Is there some way that we can get some anti-vandalism protection for this article? It's hit several times a day. Bo-Lingua 19:25, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

Inuit and Liver

According to an Inuit-ran website, the Inuit will eat the liver of ringed seals, if not other seal species. See http://www.itk.ca/environment/wildlife-ringed-seal.php for info. According to the same website, however, they will not eat polar bear liver for the Vitamin A poisoning risk. (http://www.itk.ca/environment/wildlife-polar-bear.php) This should be reflected in the article.

Question

i have high liver inzimes. .i have been checked for hipmatitus don't have it had a liver byposey. and got off premerin for 2 mounths did another test still high inzimes. if i could give u a list of med i am taking could u tell me which one that would make it go high . i'm wondering what is my problem if u understand what i'm talking about. i'm very werried and seems all doctors r dragging their feet no one is trying to find out nothing i have no appontment for any more testing. thank you delilah

I would be incredibly wary of illiciting medical advice from Wikipedia. If a GI doc or hepatologist can't give you definite answers than go find other medical advice (of which Wikipedia is not considered even a remote source).

Liver regeneration

The figures in the liver regeration section do not make complete sense; if a liver could regenerate completely with only 25% and 67% in one week, there would be nowhere near the amount of liver transplants or the lengthy waiting lists for people requiring the vital organ.

Although the liver is able to regenerate quite readily, to my knowledge it is not to the degree stated in the article.

If there is a qualified source which states otherwise, please let me know; I am more than willing to be proved wrong.

The Missing Fairy 06:04, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

Symptoms.

In hopes of making this encyclopedia even better may I suggest the following.

1. Symptoms of a disorder relating to 'the liver'.

Why ?

If we have a problem with an organ, the result we are looking for is to understand the impact on the organ not functioning.

For example.

Liver

Problems (merely speculation and some personal research)

1. Alchol gets absorbed quickly into bloodstream, liver is not cleansing, and you feel the effects.

2. Toxins in your system will infiltrate your blood, and cause some other related symptoms, ie confusion, delirium, etc.etc.

3. Bloating, feeling of always hungry. (this has to do with the livers function in creating bile to breakdown foods, ie fatty acids, etc....

Also.

Herbal treatments that are well known as a liver aid.

Known treatments, herbal, that are found in many books, I will hopefully put them here as an aid to people.

1. Milk Thistle. 2. Chircory 3. Dandelion.

--Caesar J. B. Squitti  : Son of Maryann Rosso and Arthur Natale Squitti 22:54, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

Hopefully someone may take this as a lead ...

--Caesar J. B. Squitti  : Son of Maryann Rosso and Arthur Natale Squitti 22:55, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

I added these important sections, and hope this is adequate, if not please adjust appropriately.

--Caesar J. B. Squitti  : Son of Maryann Rosso and Arthur Natale Squitti 14:20, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Can someone put a undisturbing picture of a liver? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.190.22.237 (talk) 01:41, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

External links

It's time to weed the link farm. I've attempted to organize the links according to what they are, either direct information pages, or general links to charities. Please feel free to move websites to the "category" that you think best describes them. Informational links are obviously more useful to the general reader than a "Here's another charity" link. WhatamIdoing (talk) 18:11, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

Regeneration question

I heard that the liver could rebuild itself when damaged years ago and when I needed to fact-check a witty zinger on another site, I'm glad to find out its true. I'm still curious, however: "The liver is among the few internal human organs capable of natural regeneration..." - what are the other organs that can rebuild themselves?

Oh, and incase any wikitards think this is off topic: I'm only asking so the sentence can become "The liver, along with the ___, ___ and ___ is one of the few..." so there. -Gohst (talk) 09:35, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

Latin

Is the latin word for liver jecur? shouldn't it be hepar wich is the word of choice in "Nomina Anatomica"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kdavidk (talk • contribs) 20:26, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

Since hepar is the relevant one for related terms, then it's more important, even if it's Greek. BTW, you might be interested in Wikipedia:MEDMOS#Naming_conventions. WhatamIdoing (talk) 18:20, 3 November 2008 (UTC)

Size?

Averaging about the size of an American football in adults...

This needs to be replaced with a more universal size comparison, so as to comply better with the Manual of Style (global perspectives). If you aren't familiar with the size of an American football (which is true for most people outside the USA and Canada), this is not going to be of much use in imagining its size. Maybe we could do a size comparison by comparing the liver to more familiar body parts (head/fists/feet). -- B.D.Mills  (T, C) 10:23, 10 November 2008 (UTC)

Synthesis

Under the Synthesis heading glycogenolysis is mentioned.... Is the breakdown of glycogen synthesis? Sahmejil (talk) 20:18, 23 July 2009 (UTC)