Liver
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
The liver is an organ used to filter the blood to remove some toxins and to add other chemicals to the blood.
About The Human Liver
Key Stage 4
Meaning
The liver is an organ used to detoxify blood and to produce bile to aid the digestion of lipids.
About The Human Liver
- When muscles do not get enough Oxygen during exercise they break glucose down into lactic acid for energy. The liver removes this toxic lactic acid from the blood by converting it back into glucose.
- The liver clears dead red blood cells and breaks them down into bile which is stored in the gall bladder. The bile is passed down the bile duct into the Small Intestine where it is used to emulsify lipids which increases their surface area making them easier to chemically digest.
- When food is absorbed into the blood it goes through the hepatic portal vein straight to the liver which removes toxins from the blood before it is sent to the rest of the body.
- The liver is a target organ for the hormone glucagon. The glucagon instructs the liver to convert glucose into glycogen.
- The liver is a target organ for the hormone insulin. The insulin instructs the liver to convert glycogen back into glucose.
Extra Information
References
AQA
- Liver, pages 12, 14, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Liver, pages 31, 74, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Liver, pages 38, 49, 120, 140-141, 162-163, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Liver, pages 45, 47, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA